Customs and Border Protection (CBP) plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to expand its fleet of high-powered surveillance drones, and other parts of the Department of the Homeland Security (DHS) may buy their own Predator-style drones, according to recently published procurement records.
The news shows DHS’s continued investment in drone surveillance technology, and how use of large scale drones could expand to other parts of the umbrella agency.
The procurement records reviewed by 404 Media say the contract is worth more than $265 million. The records specifically point to the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, adding that CBP is “utilizing new Congressional funding to support procurement and sustainment” for a fleet of MQ-9 drones. The exact number of drones is redacted. CBP did not say how many additional drones it plans to acquire in response to a question from 404 Media. CBP previously had a fleet of around 10 drones, according to a CBP presentation available online.
“Unmanned Aircraft Systems [UAS] are a critical component of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s layered border security strategy, providing advanced surveillance and detection capabilities across land and maritime environments. These systems enhance CBP Air and Marine Operations’ ability to detect, track, and respond to illicit activity, as well as support disaster response and search and rescue operations,” a CBP spokesperson told 404 Media in an email. “CBP is expanding its existing UAS fleet with additional MQ-9B unmanned aircraft currently on order. MQ-9 fleet end strength remains under evaluation.”
The MQ-9B drone is made by General Atomics Aeronautical and is also known as the SkyGuardian. “SkyGuardian is designed to fly over the horizon via satellite for up to 40+ hours in all types of weather and safely integrate into civil airspace, enabling joint forces and civil authorities to deliver real-time situational awareness anywhere in the world—day or night,” General Atomics’ website says.
At the moment, CBP appears to be the only component of DHS with a fleet of MQ-9 drones. It regularly flies these drones to assist other agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to data obtained by 404 Media. CBP flew Predator drones over the June 2025 anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles.
But other components may acquire their own fleet of the high-powered surveillance drones. The procurement documents say, “Other DHS components that are looking to establish an MQ-9 program, [redacted], may procure an additional [redacted] MQ-9 UAS utilizing the CBP contract vehicle.” CBP did not answer which agency that was when 404 Media asked.
