Are Your Local Police Using Flock Safety ALPRs to Scan for Immigrants?

2026-06-25 · Source: Deeplinks · Field: Government & Public Sector — Public Safety & Security, Public Policy & Governance, Regulatory & Compliance · Depth: Novice, medium

Summary

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has uncovered that Flock Safety Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) systems, widely used by local law enforcement, can be configured to scan for an "Immigration Violator" hotlist. This specific hotlist, exclusively maintained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), includes license plates linked to administrative warrants issued without judicial review. According to the NCIC operator manual, these records target "criminal aliens" deported for serious crimes or foreign-born individuals violating immigration law. Local agencies using Flock Safety ALPRs can subscribe to this hotlist via an administrative interface, receiving alerts when a vehicle on the list is sighted. This practice facilitates immigration enforcement, potentially violating local policies, as demonstrated by the Sparks Police Department, NV, which prohibits immigration enforcement but uses the ICE hotlist. The EFF is actively identifying agencies utilizing this feature through public records requests.

Key takeaway

For privacy advocates or concerned residents monitoring local law enforcement, you should investigate whether your local police department's Flock Safety ALPRs subscribe to the ICE "Immigration Violator" hotlist. This practice may contravene local policies or facilitate immigration enforcement without judicial review. Use public records requests to uncover these subscriptions, then present your findings to city officials or local press. This evidence can influence ALPR contract renewals or policy changes, ensuring transparency and accountability in surveillance technology use.

Key insights

Local ALPR systems can facilitate immigration enforcement through an ICE-managed hotlist, potentially bypassing local policy.

Principles

• Administrative warrants, not judicial, populate ICE's Immigration Violator hotlist.
• Local agencies control subscription to specific NCIC hotlist topics.
• Public records requests can expose ALPR hotlist configurations.

Method

Research local ALPR use via AtlasofSurveillance.org/EyesonFlock.com, then file a public records request for NCIC hotlist topics using a provided template, and await agency response.

In practice

• Consult AtlasofSurveillance.org for local ALPR deployment.
• Submit public records requests for NCIC hotlist topic selections.
• Present findings to local officials to influence ALPR contracts.

Topics

• Automated License Plate Readers
• Flock Safety
• ICE Hotlists
• NCIC Database
• Public Records Requests
• Surveillance Policy

Best for: Legal Professional, Policy Maker, General Interest

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Deeplinks.