U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) gained indirect access to a vast network of AI-powered license plate reader cameras operated by Flock Safety, according to documents reviewed by 404 Media. ICE has no direct agreement with Flock, but has accessed the system through search requests routed via local and state law enforcement.
The data, obtained from Danville, Illinois, through a public records request, revealed more than 4,000 lookups between June 2024 and May 2025 that listed reasons such as “immigration,” “ICE+ERO” or “ICE WARRANT.” These lookups were conducted by agencies across dozens of states, including police departments in Texas, Florida, Missouri and Arizona. In many cases, local officers acted on informal requests from federal agents.
What is Flock Safety and how does the system work?
Flock Safety operates over 40,000 automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras in more than 5,000 U.S. communities. The cameras continuously record vehicle data, including license plates, color, make and sometimes unique features such as bumper stickers or missing hubcaps. Officers using the system can track a vehicle’s movements over time, often without needing a warrant.
According to the company’s documentation, agencies using the ‘National Lookup’ tool can query camera data from jurisdictions nationwide. The company claims that local users control the data and decide who can access it, although critics argue that the audit logs suggest limited oversight.
Are police violating state laws or company policy?
Illinois law prohibits law enforcement from using ALPR data for immigration enforcement, and Flock’s own policies forbid it. However, the audit data show that ICE and its Enforcement and Removal Operations division were able to utilize the system through state and local police indirectly.
Danville officials denied that their officers conducted immigration lookups. However, 404 Media confirmed details of searches with several agencies that cited informal federal requests. Some departments said the data was used in broader criminal probes. Others acknowledged task force officers may have entered immigration-related terms in error.
Civil liberties advocates warn that the practice raises significant privacy concerns and calls for public debate over the limits of law enforcement surveillance.