The Surveillance State in Action
Across the country, the United States Border Patrol is monitoring millions of Americans nationwide using cameras that automatically scan license plates and track vehicles without the knowledge or consent of drivers. Make no mistake: this is the surveillance state in action.
Border Patrol, despite their name, has developed a surveillance system stretching across the entire country. This technology has been in development for over a decade, but under the Trump Administration it has been heavily funded and fast tracked. This network of cameras uses predictive intelligence (aka AI) to flag vehicles deemed “suspicious” based on where they came from, where they’re going, which route they took, and even if they defer from their normal daily routine. Customs and Border Protection — who are federal agents — can then contact local law enforcement to make traffic stops that lead to immigration and customs related arrests.
Customs and Border Protection have strategically disguised these cameras as part of job site construction materials or traffic equipment. Additionally, this agency has established no clear criteria for what “suspicious” activity looks like, which has led to unsuspecting Americans getting pulled over, questioned, and searched without any knowledge of how they got on the radar of law enforcement. Once federal agents identify a target and contact local law enforcement, officers can use alleged violations like slightly speeding, a dangling air freshener, window tinting, failure to signal, or dozens of other minor traffic violations to initiate these search, seizure, and arrests. This has led to more Border Patrol encounters with civilians than ever before.
Border Patrol is weaponizing local law enforcement and traffic stops to impose an aggressive anti-immigration agenda on the American people. They are effectively serving as a domestic surveillance organization.
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) recently approved placement of these automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras for Customs and Border Protection on state land in Michigan. This high stakes partnership does not have to go through the Michigan legislature to be approved. Without any laws regulating the use of ALPR surveillance by the state, cameras for CBP have been mounted along several highways, including I-94 and I-75.
We encourage you to join us in contacting the MDOT director to demand this agreement is rescinded in Michigan. This urgent action only takes a few minutes and can have a significant impact on helping to protect our communities. You can use this script and the contact information below for your call and email:
“Hi, my name is [First Name Last Name], and I am a resident of [City/Township]. I am [calling/emailing] to express my objection to the approval of ALPR cameras for Customs and Border Protection on state land. This agreement raises privacy and security concerns for MI residents, directs state and local resources for federal immigration enforcement, and leads to further separation of Michigan families. I urge you to rescind MDOT’s agreement with CBP. Thank you.”
Call: 517-241-2400
Email: PoolE@Michigan.gov
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