Reps. Pettersen, Krishnamoorthi Lead Effort Demanding Answers on ICE’s Backdoor Access to License Plate Surveillance Network

LAKEWOOD – Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) today led an effort demanding answers from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following reports the agency has used local police to gain backdoor access to a nationwide license plate surveillance network, allowing the federal government to track private citizens’ movements. In the Members’ letter to Acting Director David Venturella, which was signed by 33 other Democrats, the Members press ICE to disclose whose movements it is tracking, what legal authority it relies on, and what safeguards protect the public from abuse. “Reports that ICE is using local police as a backdoor to track people’s movements is terrifying and should alarm every single one of us. Especially during the Trump administration, which is looking for every opportunity to track and deport even law-abiding people,” said Congresswoman Pettersen. “I’m demanding answers about who ICE is tracking, how this information is being used, and what is stopping agents from abusing it. ICE does not get a blank check to spy on families and communities.” “ICE’s use of local police as a backdoor to access Flock’s license plate cameras and secretly track Americans’ movements is an outrageous abuse of power,” said Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi. “The Trump administration cannot use local law enforcement to circumvent the Fourth Amendment and evade accountability. We are demanding answers about who ICE has been tracking, how this information has been used, and whether anyone has been detained or arrested as a result of this surveillance.” A recent investigation uncovered more than 4,000 searches of Flock Safety camera data by state and local law enforcement conducted for federal authorities or with a potential immigration focus. The reporting described how ICE obtained access through local law enforcement despite having no formal contract with Flock governing that access. Flock’s automatic license plate readers capture vehicle information and locations, allowing law enforcement to search records across camera networks. Access to those records can reveal incredibly personal details about people’s daily routines and whereabouts, raising concerns about privacy and the potential misuse of information collected in communities across the country. “Such chilling, unrestrained surveillance obtained without judicial authorization, contractual safeguards, or public transparency, represents far more than a procedural lapse—it represents the quiet expansion of a federal surveillance system operating out of sight and beyond any meaningful public oversight,” the Members write in the letter. The letter requests answers by November 20, 2026, including: How often ICE has accessed Flock camera data, directly or through state and local partners and for what purposes. How many people have been detained, arrested, or subjected to other enforcement actions as a result. What legal authority and internal policies govern ICE’s access to and use of this information. Whether ICE has reviewed these practices for compliance with federal privacy protections, the Fourth Amendment, and Department of Homeland Security policy. Whether ICE intends to establish a formal agreement with Flock safety or another license plate reader vendor . Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen has consistently fought back against the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement overreach and defended due process . In the Colorado legislature, she helped pass legislation ensuring local law enforcement agencies do not serve as an extension of ICE. In Congress, she voted against legislation that would force Washington, D.C. police to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement and condemned ICE operations in schools, churches, and hospitals . This letter builds on her work to protect immigrant communities and demand accountability for federal enforcement practices that threaten people’s rights . The full text of the letter can be found HERE and below. Dear Acting Director Venturella: We write with serious concern regarding reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been accessing data from Flock Safety automatic license‑plate‑reader (ALPR) cameras, an AI‑powered surveillance system, with no formal contract or governing agreement in place, creating serious concerns around data privacy and overreach. According to recent reporting, ICE has used state and local law‑enforcement agencies to conduct more than 4,000 searches of Flock camera data on its behalf, enabling ICE personnel to obtain personally identifiable information without a criminal warrant. Not only is this protocol potentially illegal, exploiting this information side-door allows ICE personnel to query ALPR cameras deployed across multiple states – in effect granting federal agents access to a nationwide, continuously updated surveillance grid capable of tracking the movements of millions of people in real time. Such chilling, unrestrained surveillance obtained without judicial authorization, contractual safeguards, or public transparency, represents far more than a procedural lapse — it represents the quiet expansion of a federal surveillance system operating out of sight and beyond any meaningful public oversight. This is a serious breach of privacy and a clear departure from federal law and agency policy. The ability of federal agents to access vast quantities of location‑tracking data, without judicial authorization and without public disclosure, constitutes an unprecedented intrusion into the privacy of the general public, and must be explained immediately. Please provide a response to the following no later than November 20, 2026 : How many times has an ICE agent obtained data from Flock Cameras, whether directly or through state or local law‑enforcement partners? For what purpose is ICE accessing and obtaining data from Flock Cameras? Have any individuals been detained, arrested, or otherwise subjected to enforcement actions as a result of information obtained from Flock Cameras? If yes, please provide that  number. What authority or legal statute is ICE purporting to operate under when accessing Flock Camera data? Please provide that authority or legal statute. Does ICE maintain any internal policy governing the use of ALPR data obtained through third‑party or indirect means? If so, please provide that policy. Has ICE conducted any legal review regarding whether accessing ALPR data through state or local partners complies with federal privacy protections, the Fourth Amendment, or DHS policy? If so, please provide that review. If not, please indicate whether the agency plans to do so. Does ICE intend to formalize a contract or memorandum of understanding with Flock Safety or any other ALPR vendor? We look forward to your prompt response. ### To access downloadable, high-quality photos, click here . 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