Produced ahead of the 2024 Border Technology Summit (September 24–25 in San Diego, California), this exclusive interview with conference chair Nelson Balido offers timely insights into the evolving border security landscape between the United States and Mexico.

With nearly 250,000 migrant apprehensions at the southern border in December 2023 alone, U.S. border officials are under growing pressure to combat human trafficking, drug smuggling, and maintain secure, efficient cross-border trade. Leveraging cutting-edge technology is central to this mission — and a core focus of the Border Technology Summit.

In this interview, Nelson shares his perspective on:

• The technologies shaping border security in 2024
• What sets the Border Technology Summit apart
• What attendees can expect to take away from this year’s event

These insights remain highly relevant as we look ahead to the 2025 summit, where new challenges and innovations will continue to define the future of border operations.

Produced ahead of the 2024 Border Technology Summit, this report explores how border security in the 21st century is increasingly defined not just by physical infrastructure, but by the integration of modern surveillance technologies, skilled personnel, and forward-looking policy.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has developed a wide range of Border Surveillance Systems (BSS) to enhance national security — including video surveillance, thermal imaging, radar, ground sensors, and radio frequency sensors. These tools are central to CBP’s vision of a high-tech “virtual wall” along the southern border.

This report takes a closer look at the evolution of BSS, with a specific focus on surveillance towers and their role in detecting illegal entries and supporting apprehensions.

These insights remain highly relevant as we look ahead to the 2025 summit, where an updated report will be published to reflect the latest developments, technologies, and operational strategies shaping the future of border security.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Southwest Border experienced over 179,000 border encounters in the month of April, putting the U.S. on track to hit 10 million encounters on its borders this fiscal year. As these encounters increase, many local law enforcement agencies located on the border are playing a more vital role in securing their section of the border.

Terrell County Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland is no stranger to protecting the southern border. His law enforcement career began in 1996 when Sheriff Cleveland entered duty with the U.S. Border Patrol, and in 2022 he was officially elected as Terrell County Sheriff, a county in Southwest Texas that touches 54 miles of the U.S.-Mexico Border. In his role, Sheriff Cleveland must ensure the safety of residents in one of the most remote counties in the country with a population around 700 people. In order to do so, Sheriff Cleveland must form partnerships with state and federal agencies to ensure the county has proper personnel and technologies.

This September, Sheriff Cleveland will present at the Border Technology Summit in San Diego, California on his experience as a small-county sheriff on the U.S.-Mexico border. Before the two-day event, Sheriff Cleveland sat down with IDGA to give a