Lawmaker introduces bill to dismantle border surveillance towers after death toll report
Representative Delia Ramirez announced plans to introduce the Reimagining Safety Act, which would terminate the US southern border surveillance tower program. The move follows an MIT Technology Review investigation that found over 1,000 deaths occurred within the towers' advertised range. The bill, developed with advocacy groups, is part of a broader proposal to replace the Department of Homeland Security.
The Reimagining Safety Act emerged from collaboration with Just Futures Law and Mijente, groups that published a joint report on ICE's technology use earlier this year. Ramirez's proposal folds the tower termination into a broader restructuring that would dissolve DHS, redistributing CISA, FEMA, TSA, and customs functions across existing agencies. The bill's text has not yet been released.
The legislation follows MIT Technology Review's finding that roughly one in four border deaths examined between 2015 and early 2026 occurred within the towers' advertised range, while DHS keeps no records tracking those deaths or program effectiveness. Ramirez acknowledged previous dismantling efforts stalled but framed this as a roadmap. DHS and CBP declined immediate comment.
The bill could reshape how border surveillance is debated in Congress, potentially shifting the conversation from reform to structural abolition. Communities along the border may see changes in how federal agencies operate if the proposal gains traction, though its legislative odds appear steep. The MIT investigation's data could influence public perception of surveillance effectiveness, affecting future funding decisions. Immigrant advocacy groups may find renewed momentum, while DHS agencies face pressure to demonstrate accountability for the tower program's outcomes.