“DHS’s review reported that CBP operates UAS in accordance with its authorities, which do not limit use to border and coastal areas,” the GAO reported on briefing slide No. 2. “The location of UAS operations is limited by FAA requirements and CPB policies and procedures.”
These flights included missions to “provide aerial support for local law enforcement activities and investigations,” to agencies including the FBI and multi-agency task forces, and to “provide aerial support for monitoring natural disasters,” the report added on slide No. 11.
The GAO also referenced the 639-page Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014 – the law that Congress passed with bipartisan support in January that fully funded the federal government for the remainder of fiscal 2014. Buried on page 250 of that law is verbiage that provides DHS with the authority to fly border patrol drones inside the United States for purposes other than border or immigration enforcement at the “discretion of the Secretary of Homeland Security.”
Furthermore, after a request, Rebecca Gambler the director for Homeland Security and Justice for the Government Accountability Office told CNS News that she could not provide a breakdown or details showing exactly when, where, and how the 1,726 hours of flight were logged. Meaning, the GAO’s audit was likely left vague on purpose to thwart researchers from digging deeper.
Shockingly the Government Accountability Office admits that while the drones can’t see through wall of homes and business, they may be able to look into yards.
About the author:
Shepard Ambellas is the founder, editor-in-chief of Intellihub News and the maker of SHADE the Motion Picture. You can also find him on Twitter and Facebook. Shepard also appears on the Travel Channel series America Declassified. You can also listen to him on Coast To Coast AM.
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