CBP RoE Very Restrictive
I spent two weeks with the Customs and Border Patrol Air and Marine officers performing their duties earlier this summer, and their Rules of Engagement are not what you think they are. For instance, because of certain due process restrictions, they cannot delete drug smugglers with precision guided munitions...ever.
I can say that people decrying the use of aircraft and high performance maritime craft are utterly unclear on how big the US border is. Or perhaps they are unclear on how the horizon works. Spend some time trying to locate kayaks at night in open water and you'll find yourself looking for every tool you can get.
Here's the other thing, a lot of our critical infrastructure is right up near the border and on the coasts. If we aren't looking for smugglers, we cannot find terrorists. If you know a way to find bloody handed murderers before they strike without looking for them, please share it. Otherwise, let the people protecting the country do their jobs. They do pretty good, despite bureaucratic nightmares that would cross a BoFH's eyes.
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/