By Trendsetter Tribune 
Texas Republicans have long voiced skepticism toward unmanned aerial vehicles — with some even backing proposals to let citizens shoot down intrusive drones. Yet, over the past several years, Texas has quietly built one of the most expansive state-run drone programs in the country.
Fueled by Governor Greg Abbott’s multi-billion-dollar Operation Lone Star border initiative, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has transformed its capabilities from virtually nonexistent a decade ago into a sprawling fleet of aerial surveillance tools.
In 2020, DPS operated fewer than 200 drones. By 2025, agency records show its inventory had climbed to more than 450, with roughly 400 employees trained to operate them. About 95 of those drones were listed as non-operational, but the total fleet value still sits around $3.7 million — putting DPS in the same league as the U.S. Border Patrol.
Many drones can fly for around 45 minutes and are equipped with thermal cameras, allowing officers to track movement day or night.
A Border Tool Spreading Inward
Under Operation Lone Star, drones rapidly became central to border operations.
In 2023, nearly 70 percent of DPS drone flight hours were tied to border missions, assisting Border Patrol thousands of times. As crossings slowed in 2024 and 2025, the share decreased, but drones still remained heavily focused on the region.
Civil liberties advocates warn that border technologies rarely stay confined to the border.
“Surveillance technologies rarely stay cabined to their original purpose,” said law professor Andrew Ferguson, noting that such systems tend to expand beyond public oversight.
Beryl Lipton of the Electronic Frontier Foundation said drones essentially act like “flying police officers,” raising privacy questions for residents going about their daily lives.
Rules — and Loopholes
DPS policy states that officers should not store drone footage to track constitutionally protected activities, conduct warrantless surveillance on private property, or use drones to establish probable cause.
However, different rules apply near the border.
Within 25 miles of the U.S. boundary, DPS is authorized to capture images of private property and individuals if tied to border security purposes. DPS says private property flights require consent — unless missions are directly linked to border operations.
Meanwhile, drones have already been deployed beyond border security. They monitored a multi-agency immigration raid near Austin, hovered over protest movements including campus demonstrations, and were used for “overwatch” during First Amendment-protected gatherings.
DPS argues the purpose is safety and situational awareness, not intimidation or suppression.
A New Problem: Where the Drones Come From
Even as the fleet grows, political headwinds are building.
Nearly 97 percent of DPS drones are made by Chinese manufacturers DJI and Autel — the same companies national security-minded Republicans in Congress are pushing to restrict.
Texas lawmakers have proposed bans on drones tied to foreign adversaries, though none have passed yet. Any future prohibition could force the state to overhaul its entire fleet and retrain operators.
Watching the Watchers
As drone surveillance expands, watchdog groups worry Texans may soon live under constant aerial monitoring — with few ways to challenge how video is gathered, stored, or used.
For now, the skies remain busy.
And while lawmakers debate future limits, the eyes of Texas — quite literally — are above us.