Predator Drones Will Be Deployed Along The Southwest Border This Week

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced Monday that predator drones will begin to provide aerial assistance for enforcement agents along the U.S.’ Southwest border later this week. 

“This is … an important tool in our security toolbox,” Napolitano told reporters during a conference call.

The unmanned flights, which begin Wednesday, will originate from Corpus Christie, Texas and will help enforcement personnel monitor the border from California to the Gulf of Mexico in Texas.

The legislation passed in the Senate during this month’s recess including funding for the surveillance aircraft, and according to Napolitano, will pay for the deployment of two additional drones. 

Napolitano stressed that the deployment of predator drones is just one of several steps the Obama administration is taking to secure the U.S.-Mexican border, which include the planned deployment of 1,200 National Guardsmen and the expansion of surveillance technology.