Chris Halsne
KIRO 7 Eyewitness News Investigative Reporter

An exclusive KIRO Team 7 Investigation exposes a border security breakdown.

You're paying millions more than you should for a high-tech security system along the Washington-British Columbia border that doesn't work very well.

Investigative Reporter Chris Halsne reveals what the federal government wants to keep a secret.

We've discovered a series of computers and cameras that are supposed to stop terrorists, drug smugglers, and other illegals from entering the US malfunction on a regular basis.

What we've uncovered has grabbed the attention of both Congress and the Department of Justice.

In theory, the lenses aimed at a rural stretch of the U.S.-Canadian border, create an impenetrable shield. 32 cameras that see miles in the dark aren't suppose to miss any movement.

However, an exclusive six-month KIRO Team 7 Investigation discovered massive deficiencies in the system.

"It's a threat to national security if this information isn't made available," says Retired Border Patrol Chief Carey James.

James says Remote Video Surveillance (or RVS) was a great idea in the beginning, but bureaucratic meddling from Washington, D.C. ruined its chances of succeeding.

"I will have a little trouble sleeping at night and I think all of us should be a little worried," James says.

We obtained documents, which reveal hundreds of specific daily breakdowns with RVS near Blaine.

"All cameras: Controls not working 95 percent of the time." "It's another warm day and the cameras are once again not responding."

The system was suppose to be a $5 million pilot project, but it's already ballooned to $8 million, and counting.

"We continually pour money into these systems and people are not held accountable or responsible."

A 100 page report, filed deep inside INS headquarters in Washington DC, says it will take millions more tax money to fix equipment.

KIRO Team 7 Investigators were denied the report under a new Homeland Security law. We were told release "would cause the government harm," even though camera failure rates are considered "sensitive, but unclassified papers."

"We've requested a copy of this report that you've brought to our attention," says U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell.

Cantwell has been a big supporter of funding more agents and more technology along Washington's border.

"We need accountability by the INS and we need accountability by the individual contractor of the technology. We need to give the border agents the tools to do their job," Cantwell says.

Our investigation discovered that the main contractor on the camera project is a company called International Microwave Corporation. The company's Vice President is the daughter of Texas Congressman Silvester Reyes.

IMC recently received a $200 million no-bid contract from the Department of Justice to install security systems along all US borders.

Congressman Reyes says he did not exert influence on behalf of his daughters company.