U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Archives

Surveillance towers stand between new sections of the primary and secondary steel bollard-style border wall along the US-Mexico border on May 10, 2021 in San Diego County, California. US-Mexico frontier. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

DHS moves forward on autonomous surveillance towers at the border

The agency has had four vendors pass an "autonomy test," Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott said during a budget hearing Thursday.

Apr 16, 2026 By Lindsey Wilkinson

Two ICE agents film the press using smartphones in the hallway outside the immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza in New York on July, 11 2025. (Photo by MADISON SWART/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)

DHS-built surveillance apparatus to surge in year ahead, documents show

The agency is expanding detection and tracking technology projects while simultaneously loosening the reins on oversight.

Mar 16, 2026 By Lindsey Wilkinson

A high-angle aerial drone shot of the hydroelectric power infrastructure on the border of Ontario, Canada, and New York.

CBP ramps up surveillance tech without much-needed IT personnel, GAO says

The watchdog’s analysis of northern border facilities found staffing levels for information systems specialists below targets and no plans for remediation, though the agency is now working…

Feb 13, 2026 By Lindsey Wilkinson

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Joseph Edlow, and Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Todd Lyons watch a video clip during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on Feb. 10, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Department of Homeland Security has faced criticism over law enforcement tactics targeting undocumented immigrants and the killing of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Acting ICE director denies existence of database tracking US citizens

Despite reports to the contrary, Todd Lyons said the agency is not surveilling American citizens or building a database of detractors.

Feb 10, 2026 By Lindsey Wilkinson

ICE agents leave a residence after knocking on the door on Jan. 28, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security continues its immigration enforcement operations after two high-profile killings by federal agents in recent weeks. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

ICE drives AI use case growth within Homeland Security

From searches of mobile devices to facial recognition, the Homeland Security division has nearly doubled its use cases since July 2025, according to the Wednesday report.

Jan 28, 2026 By Lindsey Wilkinson Madison Alder

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Gregory Bovino with his security team while a group of citizens opposed to the country’s immigration policies protested him in Minnesota on Jan. 21, 2026. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)

House Democrats want ICE, CBP uniforms to feature identification tech

Three lawmakers introduced a bill that would require certain employees of the Department of Homeland Security to wear clearly visible, scannable QR codes.

Jan 23, 2026 By Lindsey Wilkinson

A global technological blackout caused chaos at border crossings between Mexico and the United States on July 19, 2024, resulting in long lines and significantly increased waiting times for travelers in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. (Photo by David Peinado/Anadolu via Getty Images)

CBP advancing use of scanning tech as ICE pulls some staffers away

The DHS component fell behind on deployment of non-intrusive inspection technology at ports of entry but is making progress, per a CBP official, who acknowledged personnel reassignments…

Jan 22, 2026 By Matt Bracken

ICE agents conduct operations in the Little Village neighborhood, a predominantly Mexican-American community in Chicago, on Nov. 8, 2025. (Photo by Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Republicans want Big Tech to stop hosting DHS enforcement-tracking apps

Members of the House Homeland Security Committee warned Apple and Google execs in letters Friday of “serious risks” to DHS personnel.

Dec 8, 2025 By Lindsey Wilkinson

U.S. Customs and Border Protection cars are parked on a street in New York City. (Photo by: Plexi Images/GHI/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Senator urges CBP to quit using tech to track and detain ‘suspicious’ drivers

The agency has deployed license plate readers and predictive algorithms to monitor Americans’ movements near and far from borders, per AP reporting, leading to stops, searches and…

Nov 26, 2025 By Matt Bracken

An exterior view of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in Washington D.C., on Jan. 5, 2023. (Photo by Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Court documents reveal ICE request for nearly 1.3 million taxpayer records

More than 47,000 matches came from that request, per emails released as part of a lawsuit that seeks to stop the IRS-ICE data-sharing agreement.

Oct 31, 2025 By Matt Bracken