1,050 Deaths Expose Failures in US AI Border Surveillance
More than 1,050 people died within range of US border towers from 2015 to early 2026, exposing detection failures and weak oversight after billions in spending.
Summary
On April 8, 2024, José Morales Bernal crossed southern New Mexico within range of three Anduril AI camera towers. Landfill employees saw him that morning and at 1 p.m.; finding him unmoving at 4 p.m., they called Border Patrol, whose agents arrived 45 minutes later. He had died from environmental exposure 360 feet from the nearest tower, one day before his 32nd birthday. Eighteen others died within range of those towers in 2024, five visible to the nearest unit.
Cross-referencing nearly 4,000 geolocated remains with nearly 600 Electronic Frontier Foundation tower locations found more than 1,050 deaths within tower range from 2015 to early 2026, covering nearly two-thirds of analyzed towers. Most deaths were outside terrain blind spots, although some towers could see only 10% of their advertised area. Since 2021, more than 110 deaths occurred near Anduril autonomous towers. RVSS cameras had 500 to 700 nearby deaths since 2015, including more than 300 rural line-of-sight cases and over 150 within half a mile; nearly 350 deaths occurred near Elbit integrated fixed towers, with a death near 52 of 53.
More than 45 interviews found both missed detections and failed responses; CBP does not formally review whether towers should have detected each death. More than 66% of first-generation towers were unusable in 2024, falling to 30% broken in January 2026, despite $50 million to $100 million yearly operating budgets. CBP’s 803 towers carried a projected $6.2 billion lifetime cost in 2023; after record 2025 funding, it plans $1 billion for 1,497 more by 2034. Anduril said proximity does not prove missed detection because terrain, obstructions and CBP viewing boundaries vary. General Dynamics deferred to CBP, Elbit did not respond, and Representative Delia Ramirez urged ending CBP’s Integrated Surveillance Tower program.
Positives
- Anduril towers can automatically classify and track people, stream live video and alert nearby agents on government smartphones.
- CBP has publicized dozens of camera-assisted rescues since 2016, showing surveillance can help when detection and response align.
- Automated monitoring reduces reliance on agents continuously watching up to 30 screens covering hundreds of square miles.
- Anduril’s newer 80-foot towers are advertised to detect and track objects of interest from as far as 7.5 miles.
Risks & concerns
- More than 1,050 people died within tower range from 2015 to early 2026, including over 110 near modern Anduril systems.
- José Morales Bernal died 360 feet from an Anduril tower after agents arrived 45 minutes after landfill workers called.
- More than 66% of first-generation towers were unusable in 2024, and 30% remained broken in January 2026.
- Some towers could see only 10% of their advertised surveillance areas, although most documented deaths occurred outside terrain blind spots.
- CBP does not formally investigate whether surveillance should have detected a deceased person or why agents failed to reach them.
- CBP plans $1 billion for 1,497 additional towers by 2034 despite unresolved detection, response and oversight failures.