{
  "id": "RS21698",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RS21698",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 364988,
      "date": "2010-07-08",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-07T01:35:05.610113",
      "title": "Homeland Security: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Border Surveillance",
      "summary": "Congress has expressed a great deal of interest in using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to surveil the United States\u2019 international land border. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) utilizes advanced technology to augment its USBP agents\u2019 ability to patrol the border, including a fleet of six UAVs. This report examines the strengths and limitations of deploying UAVs along the borders and related issues for Congress. \nUAVs come with several costs and benefits. One potential benefit of UAVs is that they could fill a gap in current border surveillance by improving coverage along remote sections of the U.S. borders. Moreover, the range of UAVs is a significant asset when compared to border agents on patrol or stationary surveillance equipment. Yet, despite potential benefits of using UAVs for homeland security, various problems encountered in the past may hinder UAV implementation on the border. There are concerns regarding the high accident rates of UAVs, which have historically been multiple times higher than that of manned aircraft. Inclement weather conditions can also impinge on a UAV\u2019s surveillance capability. Also, according to the CBP Inspector General, the costs of operating a UAV are more than double the costs of operating a manned aircraft. \nRecent attention has focused on the expanding area of operations for CBP-operated UAVs. On June 23, 2010, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted a certificate of authorization requested by CBP, clearing the UAV flights along the Texas border and Gulf region. Other requests have reportedly been delayed due to safety concerns, some of which stem from previous incidents. Despite safety concerns, some policymakers continue to call for the increased domestic use of UAVs. The Supplemental Appropriations Bill of FY2010 (H.R. 4899) would include $32 million for the acquisition of two additional UAVs by CBP.\nThis report will be updated as events warrant.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
      "active": false,
      "formats": [
        {
          "format": "HTML",
          "encoding": "utf-8",
          "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/RS21698",
          "sha1": "1ed0abc80ebd6e552c60efafed7796485788682a",
          "filename": "files/20100708_RS21698_1ed0abc80ebd6e552c60efafed7796485788682a.html",
          "images": null
        },
        {
          "format": "PDF",
          "encoding": null,
          "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RS21698",
          "sha1": "f6d70f23b0beb863a28ed92edc3c44b6eea4ce28",
          "filename": "files/20100708_RS21698_f6d70f23b0beb863a28ed92edc3c44b6eea4ce28.pdf",
          "images": null
        }
      ],
      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "IBCList",
          "id": 4648,
          "name": "Unmanned Aircraft Systems"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs10601/",
      "id": "RS21698_2008May13",
      "date": "2008-05-13",
      "retrieved": "2008-12-11T20:31:34",
      "title": "Homeland Security: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Border Surveillance",
      "summary": "Congress has expressed a great deal of interest in using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to surveil the United States' international land border. This report examines the strengths and limitations of deploying UAVs along the borders and related issues for Congress.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORT",
      "active": false,
      "formats": [
        {
          "format": "PDF",
          "filename": "files/20080513_RS21698_484ade8389110055438540cbc763787392973e73.pdf"
        },
        {
          "format": "HTML",
          "filename": "files/20080513_RS21698_484ade8389110055438540cbc763787392973e73.html"
        }
      ],
      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Defense policy",
          "name": "Defense policy"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "National security",
          "name": "National security"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Immigration",
          "name": "Immigration"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Border patrols",
          "name": "Border patrols"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Executive departments",
          "name": "Executive departments"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "U.S. Department of Homeland Security",
          "name": "U.S. Department of Homeland Security"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Weapons systems",
          "name": "Weapons systems"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Drone aircraft",
          "name": "Drone aircraft"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc806874/",
      "id": "RS21698_2006Nov17",
      "date": "2006-11-17",
      "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26",
      "title": "Homeland Security: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Border Surveillance",
      "summary": null,
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORT",
      "active": false,
      "formats": [
        {
          "format": "PDF",
          "filename": "files/20061117_RS21698_a364ac3603f0590f1930aa713fd1f3c9eaab8c2f.pdf"
        },
        {
          "format": "HTML",
          "filename": "files/20061117_RS21698_a364ac3603f0590f1930aa713fd1f3c9eaab8c2f.html"
        }
      ],
      "topics": []
    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs6347/",
      "id": "RS21698 2005-02-07",
      "date": "2005-02-07",
      "retrieved": "2005-06-12T18:39:59",
      "title": "Homeland Security: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Border Surveillance",
      "summary": null,
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORT",
      "active": false,
      "formats": [
        {
          "format": "PDF",
          "filename": "files/20050207_RS21698_0893e3d9711b5e5b6e14ef89691f42fbb81a2d9d.pdf"
        },
        {
          "format": "HTML",
          "filename": "files/20050207_RS21698_0893e3d9711b5e5b6e14ef89691f42fbb81a2d9d.html"
        }
      ],
      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Weapons systems",
          "name": "Weapons systems"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Border patrols",
          "name": "Border patrols"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Drone aircraft",
          "name": "Drone aircraft"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Immigration",
          "name": "Immigration"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "International affairs",
          "name": "International affairs"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs7857/",
      "id": "RS21698_2004Dec07",
      "date": "2004-12-07",
      "retrieved": "2005-12-21T17:04:15",
      "title": "Homeland Security: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Border Surveillance",
      "summary": "The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to improve border security is a technique that has garnered congressional attention. This report examines the strengths and limitations of deploying UAVs along the borders and related issues for Congress.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORT",
      "active": false,
      "formats": [
        {
          "format": "PDF",
          "filename": "files/20041207_RS21698_d547445cf9284084569468cd061806862115050b.pdf"
        },
        {
          "format": "HTML",
          "filename": "files/20041207_RS21698_d547445cf9284084569468cd061806862115050b.html"
        }
      ],
      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Weapons systems",
          "name": "Weapons systems"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Border patrols",
          "name": "Border patrols"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Drone aircraft",
          "name": "Drone aircraft"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Immigration",
          "name": "Immigration"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "International affairs",
          "name": "International affairs"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs6113/",
      "id": "RS21698 2004-06-28",
      "date": "2004-06-28",
      "retrieved": "2005-06-12T18:39:27",
      "title": "Homeland Security: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Border Surveillance",
      "summary": null,
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORT",
      "active": false,
      "formats": [
        {
          "format": "PDF",
          "filename": "files/20040628_RS21698_5041caf8606e8145985aed9688c3d95018ba8471.pdf"
        },
        {
          "format": "HTML",
          "filename": "files/20040628_RS21698_5041caf8606e8145985aed9688c3d95018ba8471.html"
        }
      ],
      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Weapons systems",
          "name": "Weapons systems"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Border patrols",
          "name": "Border patrols"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Drone aircraft",
          "name": "Drone aircraft"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Immigration",
          "name": "Immigration"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "International affairs",
          "name": "International affairs"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs6112/",
      "id": "RS21698 2004-01-02",
      "date": "2004-01-02",
      "retrieved": "2005-06-12T18:38:55",
      "title": "Border Security and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles",
      "summary": "The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to improve border security is a technique that has garnered congressional attention. This report examines the strengths and limitations of deploying UAVs along the borders and related issues for Congress. This report is not intended to provide in-depth information regarding technical or military capabilities of UAVs, but to discuss their application at the border.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORT",
      "active": false,
      "formats": [
        {
          "format": "PDF",
          "filename": "files/20040102_RS21698_3b01b6ce7288f8754d7781394a0c27ff7c3828b5.pdf"
        },
        {
          "format": "HTML",
          "filename": "files/20040102_RS21698_3b01b6ce7288f8754d7781394a0c27ff7c3828b5.html"
        }
      ],
      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Weapons systems",
          "name": "Weapons systems"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Border patrols",
          "name": "Border patrols"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Drone aircraft",
          "name": "Drone aircraft"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Immigration",
          "name": "Immigration"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "International affairs",
          "name": "International affairs"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Appropriations",
    "Intelligence and National Security"
  ]
}