Kelly, Lankford Push for Threat Assessment of Drones Found Near U.S. Borders

Today, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and James Lankford (R-OK) introduced the Border Drone Threat Assessment Act, bipartisan legislation to require a complete threat assessment of unmanned aircraft systems at or near international borders of the United States, and how agencies can respond. 

 “Drone technology is rapidly evolving, and in the wrong hands, it can pose risks to our national security,” said Kelly. “With this bill, we’re working to stay ahead of that threat, keeping Arizona families and our country safe.”   

“When American airspace is violated by cartels and bad actors, America should be able to defend itself. We need a clear strategy to counter unmanned aircraft systems that cartels use and that threaten border security,” said Lankford. “As we address these threats and consider using our own drone technology, we must prioritize Americans’ privacy and maintain transparency about the threats along our border.” 

 Background 

 In recent years, Border Patrol and other agencies have noticed a growing increase in unmanned aircraft systems flying near or across our borders. This bill would require all agencies that have a say over enforcement at our borders to collaborate on a threat assessment and report on countermeasures to mitigate threats effectively.  

 This effort is a continuation of Kelly’s ongoing work to defend Arizona communities from crimes involving drone technology. In 2023, Kelly introduced the bipartisan Drone Act, legislation aimed at broadening the list of drone uses prohibited under federal law to criminalize dangerous drone activity by drug and human traffickers.  

You can read the exclusive in the Daily Caller here.   

You can read the full text of The Border Drone Threat Assessment Act here.