The newest idea for border control comes from our military. This idea soars along the Mexican border searching for drug traffickers and illegal immigrants, part of a birds sight view that border patrol hopes to increase. The technology is the Predator B drone. They have been flying over Arizona since October 06` with two more coming.
The U.S. wants to fund twelve more for the Canadian border and Florida's Gulf Coast- Caribbean, becoming the largest predator drone program in America. These Predators are the unarmed version of the hellfire missile ordinance carrying counterparts being used in Iraq. The drones weight five tons with a wingspan of sixty-six feet.
These remote planes can fly undetected for several thousand feet. Along with far range camera's, infrared capability, night vision and laser targeting, border crossers are going to be given a huge challenge to complete their illegal activities. In a five month period, 3,857 illegals and more than nine tons of marijuana and been prevented from entering the country, not to bad for a remote controlled airplane.
But like everything else we have the flip side of the coin, privacy, People are now questioning whether this type of surveillance could become a civil liberties violation, The answer, create a civil liberties “free” zone along the border. Currently the drones fly over remote border territory so the privacy question is a stand still but could develop into more if local law enforcement decides to follow suite. So the question becomes with all the good this technology could accomplish, could be it be worth giving up some personal freedoms, and where if ever does it end?
