DoD Deploys Surveillance Systems Along US-Mexico Border

The US Department of Defense has deployed ground-based optic surveillance systems along the US-Mexico border under Joint Task Force Southern Border operations, adding military-grade detection capability to Customs and Border Protection's existing perimeter monitoring infrastructure.

Systems deployed include the Ground-Based Operational Surveillance System–Expeditionary (GBOSS-E), the Long-Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System (LRAS), and the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) repurposed for monitoring operations. These systems provide day and night observation at ranges exceeding what CBP's standard tower-mounted camera systems can achieve.

The deployment is part of a broader DoD border support mission that has intensified since 2024, with military assets augmenting civilian border security capabilities along the southwest border. For the perimeter detection industry, the deployment signals continued federal investment in layered detection along the border — combining physical barriers, sensor systems, and surveillance technology.

The border security segment remains the largest single government investment in perimeter detection globally. DHS separately announced $4.5 billion in Smart Wall construction contracts in September 2025, bringing total border detection technology investment to $8 billion across active and planned contracts.