FAA Approves Border Drones

WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Federal Aviation Administration has approved the expansion of unmanned aircraft flights to patrol the entire Texas-Mexico border.

In a prepared statement, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison announced the Wednesday decision expanding the flights long sought by Texas officials.

According to the statement, U.S. Customs and Border Enforcement will be allowed to begin the flights along the entire length of the Texas-Mexico border on Sept. 1.

On May 14, the FAA approved the use of unarmed, unmanned surveillance drones over the border between Mexico and West Texas and New Mexico. Those flights began June 1. Drone flights were approved previously for the Arizona-Mexico border.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


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