Unmanned drone sought for Texas-Mexico border

House Homeland Security Border Subcommittee Chairman Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, has asked the Homeland Security Department to deploy a new unmanned aircraft along his state's border with Mexico.

"The southwest border region, specifically El Paso to Brownsville, Texas, would benefit greatly from a remote piloted aircraft," Cuellar wrote in a letter to Customs and Border Protection, which is part of DHS. "This technology will increase our border security and help diminish international criminal organizations' activities, having a direct impact on border violence."

The agency has operated three Predator B unmanned aerial systems along the Arizona-Mexico border since 2005. Cuellar also asked the agency to consider the need for additional Predators along the northern border, where one now operates.

According to CBP, the Predators have flown more than 1,500 hours in support of border security missions and contributed to the seizure of more than 15,000 pounds of marijuana and the apprehension of more than 4,000 illegal immigrants.