	CBP Has Made Progress in Implementing the Arizona Border Surveillance Technology Plan, but Could Take Additional Actions to Strengthen Management of the Plan

		CBP Has Initiated or Completed Deployment of Technologies under the Plan and Has Taken Actions to Update Program Schedules and Cost Estimates

In March 2014 and April 2015, we reported that CBP had made progress  in deploying programs under the Arizona Border Surveillance Technology  Plan, but that CBP could take additional action to strengthen its  management of the Plan and the Plan’s programs. Additionally, as discussed further below,  CBP has reported taking steps to update program schedules and life- cycle cost estimates for the three highest-cost programs under the Plan. For example, in May 2016, CBP provided us with complete schedules for  two of the programs, and we will be reviewing them to determine the  extent to which they address our recommendation. In addition, in March 2014, we reported that the life-cycle cost estimates  for the Plan reflected some, but not all, best practices. We concluded that  ensuring that scheduling best practices were applied to the programs’  schedules and verifying life-cycle cost estimates with independent  estimates could help better ensure the reliability of the schedules and  estimates, and we recommended that CBP verify the life-cycle cost  estimates for the IFT and RVSS programs with independent cost  estimates and reconcile any differences. CBP Has Made Progress toward Assessing Performance of Surveillance Technologies, but Has Not Fully Applied Performance Metrics or Assessed the Contributions of Its Technologies

We reported in March 2014 that CBP had identified mission benefits of its  surveillance technologies to be deployed under the Plan, such as  improved situational awareness and agent safety. However the agency  had not developed key attributes for performance metrics for all  surveillance technologies to be deployed as part of the Plan, as we  recommended in November 2011. Further, as of May 2015, CBP had identified a set of potential key  attributes for performance metrics for all technologies to be deployed  under the Plan. While CBP had  expected to complete its development of baselines for each performance  measure by the end of calendar year 2015, as of March 2016 the actual  completion is being adjusted pending test and evaluation results for  recently deployed technologies on the southwest border. CBP Utilizes Unmanned Predator B Aircraft and Tactical Aerostats for a Variety of Border Security Activities

		Preliminary Observations on CBP’s Utilization of Predator B Aircraft

Our ongoing work shows that as of May 2016, CBP operates nine  Predator B from four AMO National Air Security Operations Centers  (NASOC) located in Sierra Vista, Arizona; Grand Forks, North Dakota;  Corpus Christi, Texas; and Jacksonville, Florida. For  example, CBP’s Predator B video and radar sensors support Border  Patrol activities to identify and apprehend individuals entering the United  States between POEs. CBP’s Predator B aircraft operate in the U.S. national airspace system in  accordance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements for  authorizing all UAS operations in the National Airspace System. In  accordance with FAA requirements, all Predator B flights must comply  with a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA). For our ongoing work, we analyzed CBP data on reported Predator  B COA-designated flight hours from fiscal years 2011 to 2015 and found  that 81 percent of flight hours were associated with COA-designated  airspace along border and coastal areas. Based on our ongoing work, we found that airspace access and weather  can impact CBP’s ability to utilize Predator B aircraft. Preliminary Observations on CBP’s Utilization of Tactical Aerostats in South Texas

Our ongoing work shows that as of May 2016, CBP has deployed six  tactical aerostats along the U.S.-Mexico border in south Texas to support  Border Patrol. CBP utilizes three types of tactical aerostats equipped with  cameras for capturing full-motion video: Persistent Threat Detection  System (PTDS), Persistent Ground Surveillance System (PGSS), and  Rapid Aerostat Initial Deployment (RAID). Each type of tactical aerostat  varies in size and altitude of operation. As of May 2016, Border Patrol  has taken actions to track the contribution of tactical aerostats to its  mission activities. Based on our ongoing work, we found that airspace access, weather, and  real estate can impact CBP’s ability to deploy and utilize tactical aerostats  in south Texas. Border Security: Progress and Challenges in DHS’s Efforts to Implement  and Assess Infrastructure and Technology. Unmanned Aerial Systems: Department of Homeland Security’s Review  of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Use and Compliance with  Privacy and Civil Liberty Laws and Standards GAO-14-849R. Borders. Border Security: Opportunities Exist to Ensure More Effective Use of  DHS’s Air and Marine Assets. U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Border Security Fencing,  Infrastructure and Technology Fiscal Year 2011 Expenditure Plan.
Why GAO Did This Study

CBP employs surveillance technologies, UAS, and other assets to help secure the border. For example, in January 2011, CBP developed the Arizona Border Surveillance Technology Plan, which includes seven acquisition programs related to fixed and mobile surveillance systems, among other assets. CBP has also deployed UAS, including Predator B aircraft, as well as tactical aerostats to help secure the border. In recent years, GAO has reported on a variety of CBP border security programs and operations.
This statement addresses (1) GAO findings on DHS's efforts to implement the Arizona Border Surveillance Technology Plan and (2) preliminary observations related to GAO's ongoing work on CBP's use of UAS and tactical aerostats for border security. This statement is based on GAO products issued from November 2011 through April 2016, along with selected updates conducted in May 2016. For ongoing work related to UAS, GAO reviewed CBP documents and analyzed Predator B flight hour data from fiscal years 2011 through 2015, the time period when all Predator B centers became operational. GAO also conducted site visits in Texas and Arizona to view operation of Predator B aircraft and tactical aerostats and interviewed CBP officials responsible for these operations.

What GAO Found

GAO reported in March 2014 and April 2015 that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), had made progress in deploying programs under the Arizona Border Surveillance Technology Plan (the Plan), but could take additional actions to strengthen its management of the Plan and its related programs. Specifically, in March 2014 GAO reported that CBP's schedules and life-cycle cost estimates for the Plan and its three highest-cost programs—which represented 97 percent of the Plan's total estimated cost—met some but not all best practices. GAO recommended that CBP ensure that its schedules and cost estimates more fully address best practices, such as validating cost estimates with independent estimates, and DHS concurred. As of May 2016, CBP has initiated or completed deployment of technology for each of the three highest-cost programs under the Plan, and reported updating some program schedules and cost estimates. For example, in May 2016, CBP provided GAO with complete schedules for two of the programs, and GAO will be reviewing them to determine the extent to which they address GAO's recommendation. GAO also reported in March 2014 that CBP had identified mission benefits of technologies under the Plan, such as improved situational awareness, but had not developed key attributes for performance metrics for all technologies, as GAO recommended in November 2011. As of May 2015, CBP had identified a set of potential key attributes for performance metrics for deployed technologies and expected to complete its development of baselines for measures by the end of 2015. In March 2016, GAO reported that CBP was adjusting the completion date to incorporate pending test and evaluation results for recently deployed technologies under the Plan.
GAO's ongoing work on CBP's use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for border security shows that CBP operates nine Predator B aircraft in U.S. airspace in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements. Specifically, CBP's Air and Marine Operations operates the aircraft in accordance with FAA certificates of waiver or authorization for a variety of activities, such as training flights and patrol missions to support the U.S. Border Patrol's (Border Patrol) efforts to detect and apprehend individuals illegally crossing into the United States between ports of entry. Predator B aircraft are currently equipped with a combination of video and radar sensors that provide information on cross-border illegal activities to supported agencies. CBP data show that over 80 percent of Predator B flight hours were in airspace encompassing border and coastal areas from fiscal years 2011 through 2015. CBP officials stated that airspace access and hazardous weather can affect CBP's ability to utilize Predator B aircraft for border security activities. GAO's ongoing work shows that CBP has deployed six tactical aerostats—relocatable unmanned buoyant craft tethered to the ground and equipped with cameras for capturing full-motion video—along the U.S.-Mexico border in south Texas to support Border Patrol. CBP operates three types of tactical aerostats, which vary in size and altitude of operation. CBP officials reported that airspace access, hazardous weather, and real estate (e.g., access to private property) can affect CBP's ability to deploy and utilize tactical aerostats. Border Patrol has taken actions to track the contribution of tactical aerostats to its mission activities.

What GAO Recommends

GAO has previously made recommendations to DHS to improve its management of plans and programs for surveillance technologies and DHS generally agreed.