Keep ICE Out of DMV Data
ICE wants protesters to know they’re being watched — and it has the technology to back it up. In Minneapolis, ICE officers scanned protesters’ faces at demonstrations, then warned that the protesters were going to be added to a government database. Their message is clear: We know who you are. We know where you live. We’re watching.
ICE’s toolkit for identifying and intimidating protesters includes a vast array of technologies, many of which remain shrouded in secrecy. Companies like Flock Safety and Motorola Solutions operate cameras across the country that can be used to track vehicles’ location histories and identify their owners. Many states also provide ICE with unrestricted access to their DMV data through Nlets, a data-sharing network for law enforcement agencies across the U.S. This allows ICE agents to gather troves of information on individuals in the field using only license plates without obtaining a judicial warrant. The result: ICE can determine who protesters are, where they live, where they’ve been, and who they associate with.
Some states have moved to change this. Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Washington have already restricted ICE from accessing their DMV data, but other states have not yet followed suit.
Demand your state to join their ranks and encourage them to take action to end ICE’s access to your DMV data.
Content for this call topic kindly provided by Protect Democracy.
Contacts for this topic:
Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY, ZIP].
IF CALLING FROM IL, MA, NY OR, or WA (states which have already taken action):
I’m calling to thank you for taking action in limiting ICE’s unrestricted access to our DMV data. I urge you to now use your platform to encourage elected leaders in other states to follow your lead, ensuring that all Americans’ privacy and First Amendment rights are protected from warrantless surveillance.
IF CALLING FROM ALL OTHER STATES:
I’m calling to demand [REP/SEN Name] work to curtail ICE’s direct access to our DMV data unless they provide a judicial warrant for a criminal investigation. We should join states like New York and Illinois in preventing our personal information from being used to target residents participating in First Amendment-protected protests.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
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