Smugglers, human traffickers, undocumented immigrants and potential terrorists attempt to illegally cross our borders and enter the United States on a regular basis. The United States Border Patrol (USBP) is tasked with pursuing and apprehending these individuals before they enter the country. However, tracking groups and individuals both day and night over complex terrain can be a difficult and potentially dangerous task. Successfully apprehending individuals who do not want to be found can be extremely challenging, even with proper training and extensive experience.
To help address this ongoing challenge and ensure USBP agents can perform their job both safely and effectively, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate recently collaborated with the USBP and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) to deliver a multi-part solution by implementing innovative tools and capabilities that enable USBP agents to leverage the knowledge, skills, and abilities of expert trackers (professionals trained to detect, track, follow and apprehend potential adversaries) and use emerging technologies to maximize their tracking performance.
USBP agents are a crucial part of the Homeland Security Enterprise, which consists of a network of hardware, software and highly-trained individuals that work together to ensure national security.
