An MIT Technology Review investigation reveals that hundreds of migrant deaths have occurred within the range of US border surveillance towers equipped with AI tracking technology.
Key facts
- •MIT Technology Review mapped nearly 4,000 locations of human remains against 600 border surveillance towers.
- •The US government intends to spend $1 billion to triple the size of the existing virtual wall.
- •The Times of San Diego identified 138 cases since 2022 where remains were found within the range of a surveillance tower.
- •José Morales Bernal died in April 2024 within range of three surveillance towers but was not detected by the system.
- •The investigation found that systemic flaws include broken towers and non-responsive agents.
A 15-month investigation by MIT Technology Review has identified a pattern of migrant deaths occurring near US-Mexico border surveillance towers. Despite the deployment of billions of dollars in technology designed to detect and track individuals, the study found that many migrants died within the operational range of these systems without receiving assistance.
By the numbers
The Virtual Wall and Systemic Failures
The US government currently utilizes nearly 600 surveillance towers equipped with cameras and AI to monitor the border. MIT Technology Review mapped approximately 4,000 locations where human remains were discovered against the locations of these towers. The investigation identified systemic issues, including broken equipment, algorithms that failed to detect individuals, and instances where Border Patrol agents did not respond to alerts. The government plans to spend an additional $1 billion to triple the size of this surveillance network.
Documented Cases of Undetected Migrants
The report highlights the case of José Morales Bernal, who died of environmental exposure in April 2024 while within range of three surveillance towers. His remains were discovered by landfill workers rather than border authorities. An analysis by the Times of San Diego identified at least 138 cases since 2022 where migrant remains were found within the nominal range of a surveillance tower. MIT Technology Review estimates that more than half of those individuals were likely within a tower’s field of view at the time.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by MIT Technology Review.
