"Dying on Camera": migrants died in view of border surveillance towers

MIT Technology Review cross-referenced nearly 4,000 locations where human remains were found with nearly 600 towers mapped by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. More than 1,050 people died within range of the towers between 2015 and early 2026, a count the investigation says misses deaths near towers not yet mapped and some in Texas. More than 110 died within range of Anduril's autonomous towers since 2021, and nearly 350 within range of Elbit's since 2015. Times of San Diego counted at least 138 deaths in California from 2022 through 2025 within a tower's nominal range; MIT Technology Review found at least 81 of those people were most likely within a camera's field of view. The investigation found CBP has done little to assess how its towers are working or how many people have died where they keep watch, and CBP plans to spend $1 billion on 1,497 more towers by 2034. Statements from CBP's Hilton Beckham and Anduril's spokesperson are attributed to each.

How we know: Primary source verified, reconfirmed twice (v3.1, v3.5) and against the published text Oct 3, 2026. "Law requires AI towers" was checked three times, not supported, and stays cut. Corrected Oct 3, 2026: two phrasings were stronger than the investigation's.