Washington - U.S. Customs and Border Protection today announced the deployment of the Remote Video Surveillance System in the Detroit Border Patrol Sector as part of the Secure Border Initiative's Northern Border Project. The Northern Border Project is part of CBP's initiative to enhance the use of technology in securing the northern border against illegal cross-border activity. The project also deployed the surveillance system in the Buffalo Border Patrol Sector in February 2010.
"The Northern Border Project technology deployment provides immediate capability to help Border Patrol agents expand their ability to detect, identify, classify, respond to and resolve illegal cross border activity," said Secure Border Initiative Executive Director Mark Borkowski. "At the same time, this deployment will provide lessons learned that will enable CBP to design better-tailored, longer-term technology options for the northern border."
Each RVSS system is comprised of a total of four cameras - two day and two night cameras for 24/7 operations. The Detroit sector deployment consists of 11 RVSS sites along the St. Clair River. Ten of the sites are completed and operational with the eleventh scheduled for completion by the end of the year. The Buffalo sector deployment consists of 5 RVSS sites along the upper Niagara River. All five sites are completed and operational.
The deployment of technology along the northern border is part of a larger border security strategy that assists CBP frontline officers and agents. SBInet is the component of SBI charged with developing and installing technology solutions to help gain effective control of our nation's borders. The right mix of technology and personnel is considered for each part of the border based on the operational needs of Border Patrol agents.
CBP chose the Detroit and Buffalo sectors for this latest RVSS deployment on the northern border based on the needs of the Border Patrol and the unique operational area, which consists of coastal maritime, river, urban and rural environments.