Predator Spotted Over Minneapolis After Surveiling US Border With Canada

A number of sources created a bit of a fuss when they noted that a CBP Predator was operating over Minneapolis during recent riots and other unrest.

Investigative journalist, Jason Paladino (@jason_paladino), was one of the first to provide substantive detail, but first tweeted that, "NOW: @CBP Predator Drone #CPB104 circling over Minneapolis at 20K feet. Took off from Grand Forks Air Force Base."

CBP copped to it fairly quickly, once the matter received public attention, noting (on Friday) that, “Earlier today a U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations (AMO) unmanned aircraft system was preparing to provide live video to aid in situational awareness at the request of our federal law enforcement partners in Minneapolis. The unmanned aircraft system provides live video feed to ground law enforcement, giving them situational awareness, maximizing public safety, while minimizing the threat to personnel and assets.

After arriving into the Minneapolis airspace, the requesting agency determined that the aircraft was no longer needed for operational awareness and departed back to Grand Forks. CBP AMO routinely conducts operations with other federal, state, and local law enforcement entities to assist law enforcement and humanitarian relief efforts.

AMO carries out its mission nationwide, not just at the border, consistent with federal laws and policies. During humanitarian missions AMO regularly deploys the unmanned aircraft system to assist FEMA in assessing hurricane affected areas, in coordination with the National Weather Service to capture imagery of storm impacted areas, and with federal, state and local partners to conduct search and rescue missions, in addition to its law enforcement mission.”

FMI: www.cbp.gov