Border Patrol bets on small drones to expand US surveillance

US Customs and Border protection quietly doubles down on A monitoring A strategy built around human-manned drones, according to federal contracting records reviewed by WIRED. The shift is pushing border enforcement toward a distributed system that can track activity in real time, and critics warn it could extend beyond the border.

New market research conducted this month shows that instead of relying on larger, centralized drone platforms, CBP is focusing on lightweight unmanned aircraft that can be launched quickly by small teams, remain operational under environmental pressures, and transmit surveillance data directly to front-line units. The documents emphasize portability, rapid setup and integration with equipment already used by border patrol.

These requirements build on previous investigations showing that CBP is consistently adhering to its operational priorities: drones capable of detecting movement in remote terrain, quickly informing agents of coordinates, and operating reliably in heat, dust, and high winds. Previous orders have highlighted the integration of cameras, infrared sensors and mapping software to help agents locate and intercept targeted people across deserts, rivers and coastal corridors.

CBP has previously focused on vertical take-off and landing drones small enough to be carried and launched by individual teams, with clear standards for flight time, speed of deployment, and performance in harsh environments. The requests also made clear that these systems were intended to do more than just monitor. They were expected to effectively direct operations, transferring live location data to the same digital tools that agents used to coordinate responses in the field.

This month’s update sharpens that approach, suggesting that CBP is no longer just exploring what drones can do, but rather improving what it wants them to do well: deploy quickly, stay longer, and deliver actionable intelligence directly to human agents. CBP currently operates a small fleet of drones Nearly 500 unmanned systemsAccording to the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, these aircraft have become a routine part of law enforcement at the border.

At a House Homeland Security Committee hearing in December, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told lawmakers that DHS is “investing up to $1.5 billion” in drone technology, counter-drone technology and “mitigation measures” that could be used not only for federally secured special events, such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but also through agreements that allow DHS to “partner with cities and states” on protections “they don’t currently have.”

However, the increased focus on small, unit-level drones does not mean CBP is abandoning larger aircraft, despite years of scrutiny over the agency’s reliance on military systems.