U.S. Border Patrol to Deploy New Surveillance Blimp in New Mexico Amid Migrant Crisis
The U.S. Border Patrol is set to deploy a high-tech surveillance blimp, or aerostat, to enhance monitoring along a critical route frequently used by migrants attempting to cross into the country. The blimp will be stationed near the Santa Teresa port of entry in the El Paso sector, a region that has witnessed over 140 migrant deaths since October.
These deaths are part of a troubling trend along the southwest border, where extreme desert heat claims hundreds of lives each year as migrants attempt to cross between official ports of entry.
For about a decade, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has utilized these blimps, equipped with advanced cameras, to improve surveillance across the southwest border. They help monitor for smugglers, suspicious vehicles, and missing migrants.
On Monday, New Mexico’s Democratic Senator Martin Heinrich and Representative Gabe Vasquez visited the Santa Teresa crossing to review the current border security efforts and technology in place. “This technology is not only intended to apprehend individuals crossing the border illegally but also to save lives,” Representative Vasquez told Border Report. “The aerostat, which will be operational next month at the Santa Teresa Border Patrol station, is a key part of our strategy.”
Senator Heinrich highlighted his long-standing efforts to modernize border security infrastructure. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he emphasized recent funding secured to combat the fentanyl crisis. “Last year, more than 110,000 Americans died from drug overdoses,” Heinrich stated in a press release. “New Mexico has the 6th highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the country. Congressman Vasquez and I are committed to providing law enforcement with the tools they need to keep fentanyl off our streets and out of our communities.”
The congressmen recently introduced the Stop Fentanyl at the Border Act, which aims to bolster border security measures and expand detection technology. They secured $400 million earlier this year for inspection technology, including non-intrusive equipment designed to scan vehicles for drugs as they enter and exit the country.
The proposed legislation seeks to enhance these efforts by integrating new detection technology along the border to address the fentanyl problem more effectively.
Republicans have criticized the visit to Santa Teresa, dismissing it as a political maneuver. “Martin Heinrich has a record of voting against border security and safety,” said Republican Senate candidate Nella Domenici. “His recent actions seem like a last-minute attempt to improve his image before the election. Heinrich’s voting record has contributed to the worsening border crisis by facilitating drug smuggling and cartel activity.”
Newsweek has reached out to the congressmen and CBP for further comment but has not yet received a response.
