A Democratic representative from Illinois has proposed ending the U.S. border surveillance tower program, which has spent over $1 billion on technology that critics argue has failed to stop migrant deaths along the southern border. The legislation, called the Reimagining Safety Act, follows an investigation by MIT Technology Review that found nearly one in four migrant deaths between 2015 and early 2026 occurred within the towers’ advertised range. The investigation also revealed that the Department of Homeland Security does not keep track of these deaths or other metrics on the towers’ success or failure.
Rep. Delia Ramirez, who is the ranking member on the Homeland Security Committee’s cybersecurity subcommittee, referenced the MIT findings in pushing for the towers’ elimination. She stated the towers “do not work,” citing the report’s estimate that 1,100 people died within their range over the 11-year span. The proposal was shaped with input from immigrant advocacy groups, including Just Futures Law and Mijente, which released a joint report earlier this year examining ICE’s use of technology.
The legislation forms part of a larger effort to reorganize the Department of Homeland Security, including a plan to create a new Department of Community Safety and redistribute responsibilities such as cybersecurity, disaster response, and customs to other agencies. Ramirez’s office has not yet published the full bill text, which is expected in the coming weeks.
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Public backing for dismantling Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has risen after recent enforcement incidents, including a shooting last weekend in Austin, Texas, where an ICE agent fatally shot a delivery driver, Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, in the back. Ramirez argued that ending ICE alone is not enough, and at a Chicago press conference said, “There’s no question that DHS has to be dismantled. We need to provide them a road map in how we do it.”
This is not the first attempt to restructure DHS, but previous efforts have failed to gain traction. The current proposal faces strong resistance, even among some Democrats who prefer reform over complete abolition. Ramirez’s position on the House committee that oversees the department and her role on the Homeland Security Committee’s cybersecurity subcommittee provide her with influence.
