Lawmakers Eye Artificial Intelligence to Help Secure Border

A bipartisan pair of lawmakers is pushing the Department of Homeland Security to wield artificial intelligence to secure the border.

Reps. Lou Correa (D-Calif.) and Morgan Luttrell (R-Texas) unveiled legislation Tuesday that would require DHS to map out how it will use AI, machine learning, and other rapidly evolving technologies at the border and authorize Customs and Border Protection to study and adapt commercial tech that can be used to fill gaps in the agency’s capabilities.

The bill, first obtained by Bloomberg Government, aims to build on DHS’s recent announcement of AI pilot programs, including one to help investigate fentanyl smuggling. As part of the proposal, Homeland Security would have 180 days to submit a plan to Congress for integrating such technologies into border security operations.

Border legislation is famously tough to move through Congress, but the focus on technology is likely to help attract widespread bipartisan support.

“Border security means keeping drug and human traffickers away from our communities—and new, bleeding-edge technology that is already available for commercial use would give our hard-working officers the tools they need to keep us safe,” Correa said in a statement.

Luttrell said: “As cartels and foreign adversary operations become more sophisticated amidst the ongoing border crisis, the United States must deploy the latest and most advanced technologies available to our borders to disrupt these threats.”

Correa and Luttrell are on the Homeland Security Committee.

The Biden administration last week announced new requirements for federal agencies to test AI tools to assess potential risks and to designate officers responsible for oversight of the systems. Departments have until Dec. 1 to implement “concrete safeguards” to ensure the technology doesn’t jeopardize Americans’ rights.