Have license plate identification cameras been used to support deportation efforts?

Flock’s automated license plate reader cameras have been used to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in locating undocumented immigrants.

The cameras allow officers to search vehicle descriptions and license plates to assist in investigations, including those involving ICE. Over 4,000 searches using Flock cameras have been conducted by the federal government for immigration purposes. 

Both the City of Sarasota and Sarasota County use Flock cameras for law enforcement. The city, which has 55 cameras, said they aren’t used for immigration. Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office did not return a request for comment. 

Prior reporting by Suncoast Searchlight found that state troopers have used the cameras for immigration-related searches.

Their use for deportation efforts has drawn public outcry. 

Flock acknowledged the controversy on its website, noting that some communities removed cameras “because public trust was strained amid broader political debates around data sharing and federal enforcement.”