The U.S. Border Patrol’s Big Bend Sector has announced that the Helen Gardner Aerostat site, located about three miles east of Sanderson, Texas, is now fully operational as of July 26. The aerostat, provided by the Department of Defense, will be used to improve aerial surveillance in the area covered by the Sanderson station and will be monitored around the clock.
According to Chief Patrol Agent Lloyd M. Easterling of the Big Bend Sector, “The successful launch of the Helen Gardner Aerostat strengthens our situational awareness and gives our agents a significant operational advantage in areas that are difficult to patrol by land.”
The deployment was achieved through collaboration between U.S. Border Patrol Headquarters and the Big Bend Sector’s Specialty Programs and Enforcement Technology Department. This effort is part of ongoing initiatives to invest in advanced border enforcement strategies.
Officials stated that they plan to continue using new technology to support frontline personnel and maintain border security.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection describes itself as America’s largest law enforcement organization and emphasizes its role in protecting national security on land, air, and sea. The agency highlights its commitment to safe travel and trade as well as economic prosperity through innovation and collaboration.
