When President Joe Biden terminated funding for former President Donald Trump’s controversial border wall, an unintended consequence of that decision was to stop deployment of several advanced electronic surveillance capabilities. Ironically, on many parts of the border, these systems provide an alternative to a physical wall. Advanced surveillance capabilities act as a force multiplier for badly overstretched Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) personnel.

At a time when activities on the border are increasing at a remarkable pace, both crossings by migrants and asylum seekers and drug smuggling, it is imperative that we give those securing the southwestern border the tools they need. The Biden administration and Congress need to restore that portion of the funding for the wall that was designated for advanced surveillance capabilities.
CBP is under tremendous pressure on multiple fronts. Most publicized is the increase in migrants presenting themselves at the border. The rate of attempted crossings along the border with Mexico has more than tripled from this time last year. There has also been a major increase in the number of unaccompanied children attempting to cross, leading to scenes of young children being abandoned on the U.S. side of the border. To demonstrate the value of electronic border surveillance, cameras captured two small children being dropped over a portion of the border fence to then fend for themselves earlier this year.
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/did-biden-halt-deployment-advanced-surveillance-systems-border-193881/