The border security industry is thriving, with hundreds of millions of dollars in funding from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under the Trump administration. At the annual Border Security Expo in Phoenix, Arizona, vendors and government representatives gather to showcase the latest surveillance tools and technologies.

One of the most insidious tools on display was the V-300 S-Screen Simulator, developed by VirTra, which uses realistic scenarios to train border agents in deescalation techniques.

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The expo floor was filled with cameras, sensors, drones, and other equipment designed to monitor and track people crossing the border. However, with the number of border crossings at a record low, some question the need for such extensive surveillance.

According to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) commissioner Rodney Scott, the focus is no longer on the border itself, but on securing the interior of the country. This shift in focus has led to an increase in interior arrests and deportations.

The use of surveillance technology is not limited to the border. Companies like Babel Street provide software and analytics to track people deep within the country, using social media and other online data to identify and locate individuals.

The Babel X platform can handle requests across over 52 social media platforms and millions of URLs, allowing users to perform cross-lingual searches and discover networks of associates.

CBP has awarded Babel Street over $21 million in contracts since 2015, and the company’s tools have been used to build out the agency’s Analytical Framework for Intelligence, a database that analyzes non-obvious relationships between individuals.

The Trump administration’s emphasis on interior enforcement has raised concerns about the potential targeting of US citizens, particularly those with immigrant backgrounds. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has highlighted the administration’s efforts to strip some immigrants of their citizenship, and the Department of Justice has identified foreign-born Americans whose citizenship it seeks to revoke.

The expo also featured tools for crowd control, including laser-proof hats, modular tactical gear, and riot gear for horses. The atmosphere was tense, with many attendees reluctant to speak to reporters.

Despite the emphasis on surveillance and enforcement, the expo also showcased more subtle forms of control, such as the use of social media monitoring and data analytics to track and predict individual behavior.

As the border security industry continues to grow, it remains to be seen how these technologies will be used, and who will be targeted. One thing is certain, however: the border is no longer just a physical boundary, but a concept that extends deep into the interior of the country.

Surveillance and the border

The use of surveillance technology at the border is not new, but it has become increasingly sophisticated in recent years. Cameras, sensors, and drones are used to monitor the border, and data analytics are used to track and predict individual behavior.

However, the use of surveillance technology raises concerns about privacy and civil liberties. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has warned that the use of surveillance technology at the border could lead to the targeting of innocent people, particularly those with immigrant backgrounds.

Despite these concerns, the use of surveillance technology at the border is likely to continue, with the Trump administration emphasizing the need for increased security and enforcement.

Border security and the private sector

The border security industry is a multibillion-dollar market, with hundreds of companies competing for contracts with DHS and other government agencies.

Companies like Anduril and VirTra are major players in the industry, providing surveillance technology, drones, and other equipment to government agencies.

The private sector has a significant influence on border security policy, with companies often lobbying for increased funding and more stringent enforcement measures.

However, the involvement of the private sector in border security also raises concerns about accountability and transparency, with some critics arguing that the industry is driven more by profit than by a desire to protect national security.