Security Lapses Found at Border Patrol Facilities

Security Lapses Found at Border Patrol Facilities

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Feb 19, 2016

Security issues were found at nearly all of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s remote facilities along the Southwest border, according to a Department of Homeland Security Inspector General report released to the public Feb. 18.

Inspectors visited seven of the 11 facilities, known as “Forward Operating Bases,” in the El Paso, Rio Grande Valley and Tucson regions. Three of the 11 were not operational at the time of the inspection. Six of the seven facilities had security lapses, such as inoperable security cameras as well as ongoing challenges with providing safe drinking water to personnel. One of the facilities also had inadequate living conditions.

The operating bases are very remote CBP facilities built to reduce the response time for Border Patrol agents working in harsh areas of the border region. They are also intended to increase law enforcement presence in the area.

Four of the bases did not have fully functioning closed-circuit security camera systems, which are required by CBP rules to allow agents on guard duty to monitor the facility and grounds. The inspectors also found that customs officials were not performing all the required inspections of the facilities and didn’t keep the necessary documentation of repairs. A camera at one of the facilities had been broken since August of 2014 and still hadn’t been repaired at the time of the April 2015 investigation.

The report states that because of the location of these facilities, so close to the border, it is imperative that they have necessary security measures.

CBP agreed with all of the recommendations made in the report and said it is taking the necessary steps to fix the problems, including camera repairs and upgrading fence gates.

“U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is committed to ensuring the health and well-being of all employees, including those assigned to the remote Forward Operating Bases (FOB) that represent a vital component of Border Patrol operations,” said Michael Friel, CBP Director of Media.

The agency had already begun to take many of the steps needed, such as identifying water contamination and moving agents to a newly constructed facility while upgrades were being met, said Friel.


About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Gaining a Competitive Edge

    Ask most companies about their future technology plans and the answers will most likely include AI. Then ask how they plan to deploy it, and that is where the responses may start to vary. Every company has unique surveillance requirements that are based on market focus, scale, scope, risk tolerance, geographic area and, of course, budget. Those factors all play a role in deciding how to configure a surveillance system, and how to effectively implement technologies like AI. Read Now

  • 6 Ways Security Awareness Training Empowers Human Risk Management

    Organizations are realizing that their greatest vulnerability often comes from within – their own people. Human error remains a significant factor in cybersecurity breaches, making it imperative for organizations to address human risk effectively. As a result, security awareness training (SAT) has emerged as a cornerstone in this endeavor because it offers a multifaceted approach to managing human risk. Read Now

  • The Stage is Set

    The security industry spans the entire globe, with manufacturers, developers and suppliers on every continent (well, almost—sorry, Antarctica). That means when regulations pop up in one area, they often have a ripple effect that impacts the entire supply chain. Recent data privacy regulations like GDPR in Europe and CPRA in California made waves when they first went into effect, forcing businesses to change the way they approach data collection and storage to continue operating in those markets. Even highly specific regulations like the U.S.’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) can have international reverberations – and this growing volume of legislation has continued to affect global supply chains in a variety of different ways. Read Now

  • Access Control Technology

    As we move swiftly toward the end of 2024, the security industry is looking at the trends in play, what might be on the horizon, and how they will impact business opportunities and projections. Read Now

Most   Popular

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area. 3

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities 3

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure. 3