ICE Uses AI Camera Network for Data

Data obtained by 404 Media indicates that ICE is utilizing a license plate-scanning tool. This tool is marketed as a surveillance solution for smaller communities to help combat crimes such as carjackings or to locate missing individuals.

According to the data reviewed by 404 Media, local police across the U.S. are using Flock’s AI-powered automatic license plate reader (ALPR) system for “immigration” related searches and in other ICE investigations. This gives federal law enforcement access to a tool without a formal contract.

Researchers who wished to remain anonymous shared a large amount of lookup data with 404 Media. According to statements gathered by 404 Media from police departments and sheriff offices, the data reveals over 4,000 national and statewide lookups by local and state police, either on behalf of the federal government, as an “informal” favor to federal law enforcement, or with a possible focus on immigration.

Even though Flock does not have a contract with ICE, the agency obtains data from Flock’s cameras by requesting it from local law enforcement. The data analyzed by 404 Media was obtained via a public records request from the Danville, Illinois Police Department, and includes Flock search logs from police departments nationwide.

When police conduct a Flock search, they must provide a “reason” for the lookup. In the “reason” field for searches of Danville’s cameras, officers from around the country entered reasons such as “immigration,” “ICE,” “ICE+ERO” (ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, focused on deportations), “illegal immigration,” and “ICE WARRANT”.

The data indicates that while lookups mentioning ICE occurred during both the Biden and Trump administrations, all lookups specifically citing “immigration” as the reason occurred after Trump's inauguration.