Peace Garden News

Senator John Hoeven hosted U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott in North Dakota to examine border operations in the Grand Forks sector and discuss how the region’s unmanned aerial systems (UAS) industry could support border security efforts. The visit highlighted North Dakota’s unique UAS ecosystem, which brings together private companies, military, and government agencies to develop drone technologies, including research on counter-drone capabilities.

Hoeven pointed to funding secured through the One Big Beautiful Bill that aims to enhance border security. The provisions include completing construction of the border wall, upgrading infrastructure such as access roads, cameras, lights, and sensors, improving screening technology to combat drug trafficking and human smuggling, supporting hiring and training for border security personnel, allocating $450 million for the Operation Stonegarden grant program to help state and local law enforcement work with Border Patrol, and providing $500 million for state and local agencies to detect threats from unmanned aerial systems.

Hoeven emphasized North Dakota’s role in developing counter-UAS technology due to assets like GrandSKY and the Northern Plains UAS Test Site as well as partnerships with military entities, federal agencies, universities, and private industry.

“With 861 miles of northern border and the one-of-a-kind UAS ecosystem we’ve built in North Dakota, we wanted Commissioner Scott to see firsthand the unique capabilities we are developing with our private, military and government partners that could be leveraged to assist law enforcement and help secure the border,” said Hoeven. “We connected Commissioner Scott with local law enforcement officials, leaders from our UAS test site and UND to build yet another partnership that will help our state lead the way.”

During their visit, Hoeven and Scott also met with community and business leaders from northern border areas. They discussed challenges faced by these communities—including how port of entry operating hours affect local economies. Hoeven has been working toward restoring ports of entry to pre-pandemic hours after securing expanded hours following pandemic-related closures.