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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Johana Bhuiyan

Ice accessed car trackers in sanctuary cities that could help in raids, files show

E-ZPass readers and license plate-scanning cameras
E-ZPass readers and license plate-scanning cameras are seen on Park Row in February 2025 in New York City. Photograph: Michael M Santiago/Getty Images

As Donald Trump’s administration ramps up its crackdown on undocumented immigrants to the US, advocates are increasingly worried immigration agents will turn to surveillance technology to round up those targeted for deportation, even in so-called “sanctuary cities” that limit the ways local law enforcement can cooperate with immigration officials.

That’s because US Customs and Immigration Enforcement (Ice) in past years has gained access to troves of data from sanctuary cities that could aid its raids and enforcement actions. Among that information is data from the vast network of license plate readers active across the US, according to documents obtained by the Guardian.

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