United States Border Patrol
Statewide, Michigan
How we verified this
As of August 2026 almost every U.S. Border Patrol talkgroup on RadioReference's MPSCS page is listed in the clear — including "2275 D CBFQH1 U.S. Border Patrol HQ", which RadioReference flags as carried on a live Broadcastify feed, plus Tac 1 through Tac 4 and the Sault Ste. Marie channel — with only "6351 D Enc BPUP1 U.S. Border Patrol: Upper Peninsula 1" encrypted, so the claim that all Border Patrol operations in Michigan are encrypted is wrong.
Encryption Details
What This Means
Coverage here is uneven — parts of the system are locked and parts are open, so a scanner gives you an incomplete rather than an empty picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is United States Border Patrol radio encrypted?
Yes — United States Border Patrol's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 encryption. Coverage here is uneven — parts of the system are locked and parts are open, so a scanner gives you an incomplete rather than an empty picture.
Can I listen to United States Border Patrol on a police scanner?
Partially. United States Border Patrol encrypts some of its talkgroups while leaving others open, so some channels may still be accessible. Check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why did United States Border Patrol encrypt their radio?
Officer safety and operational security are the reasons agencies give. What rarely comes with that explanation is Statewide County-specific evidence that open communications ever caused a problem, while the loss of public oversight and the friction with still-unencrypted neighboring agencies are both immediate and real.
Can Statewide County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes, and some departments already have. Because encryption here is a choice rather than a technical necessity, the path back runs through the same people who chose it: budget hearings, records requests, and residents who keep asking in public.
What can I do about United States Border Patrol encryption?
Start local: show up when Statewide County officials discuss the budget for United States Border Patrol, and ask specifically why full encryption was chosen over a delayed feed or tactical-only approach. File a FOIA request for recordings or policy documents, and connect with others nearby who want the same information — a coordinated ask carries more weight than an individual one.