Live surveillance cams let the public help watch for illegal aliens and fight border crime

A Virtual Deputy reported these two people pulling a raft across the river at a known illegal border crossing point

Video screen-capture courtesy TBSC

With the recent immigration-related laws being passed in Arizona and increased national attention on the issue in general, travelers around the country have grown concerned about possible anti-American sentiment while traveling in Mexico.

Meanwhile, the Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition (TBSC) is making it possible for ordinary citizens to join in the effort to protect America's border with Mexico through a network of Web-based live video surveillance cameras placed along the border.

The TBSC has created the Texas Virtual Border Watch Program to provide real-time streaming video surveillance cameras that are accessible by the public day and night so regular citizens can join in the hunt for drug runners, human smugglers, illegal aliens and other suspicious criminal activity. A $2 million grant from Texas Governor Rick Perry funds the initiative. A private company, BlueServo, installed the network.

"This initiative advances the concept of a neighborhood watch by leveraging the latest surveillance technology to create a 'virtual' neighborhood watch program," said Arvin West, Hudspeth County Sheriff and 1st Vice President of the TBSC.

The webcams are strategically placed in high-threat areas throughout the border region to create a sort of "Virtual Border Fence." The number and locations of the cameras changes regularly, depending on the priorities of the TBSC.

Members of this "Virtual Community Watch" can instantly (and anonymously) report suspicious activity to law enforcement through email and local county border sheriffs will respond to the reported threats. Viewers can theoretically use the cameras to witness the sheriffs' response and monitor the appropriateness of any enforcement action.

"By putting more eyes on the Texas-Mexico border, law enforcement can better protect our state from powerful and ruthless Mexican crime cartels and violent transnational gangs," West said.

Governor Perry and the TBSC "recognize the value of leveraging technology, public-private partnerships and the public to protect Texans," said TBSC Executive Director Donald L. Reay.

The network of video cameras can be accessed at TexasBorderWatch.com. Free registration is required. Some users have experienced a difficulty accessing the site using some browsers. Other users have gotten a page stating that the site is closed. Others, however, are still able to access it, but the video loads slowly. Once it loads, it streams rather fast. 

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