House Homeland Security Chairman Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) is pressing DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for answers after learning that a significant number of surveillance cameras along the U.S.-Mexico border are broken. Green is seeking detailed updates on the status of these cameras, which play a crucial role in monitoring illegal border crossings.

An internal memo from Border Patrol revealed that about one-third of the cameras used along the 2,000-mile southern border are malfunctioning. Green has sent a letter to Mayorkas, giving him until October 23 to provide information about the repairs and the operational status of the cameras.

Green’s office has received confirmation from DHS sources that around two-thirds of the cameras are currently offline. This has severely limited agents’ ability to track illegal crossings, leading to concerns that the number of “gotaways” — those who cross the border undetected — is being undercounted.

Moreover, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) review discovered that many contractors hired to work on these surveillance systems had not been properly vetted. CBP was unable to confirm that several workers were U.S. citizens, raising questions about who is handling this sensitive security equipment.

With border security being a major issue for voters, Green is pushing for immediate action to fix these surveillance systems and ensure better protection of the southern border.