CBP chief outlines $46.5 billion smart wall plan with AI towers and drones

During a policy event in Washington, DC, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott detailed how the "smart border wall" financed by the $46.5 billion appropriation from the Trump-signed bill will modernize border enforcement. He said the investment adds autonomous towers that use AI and radar to filter out non-threats, allowing agents to assess alerts on smartphones and avoid unnecessary responses. The plan also expands aerial and maritime surveillance, deploying portable drones, light helicopters, and MQ-9 unmanned aircraft, with operations coordinated alongside the Coast Guard and the broader Department of Homeland Security.

Scott emphasized that the technology aims to maximize taxpayer return by improving detection and control of illegal crossings. The session featured DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin discussing sovereignty and public safety, and was organized in partnership with CGCN and the ALFA Institute.