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Imperial Today
By the People, for the People
Privacy Groups Urge California to Remove Covert License Plate Readers
More than two dozen organizations call on Governor Newsom to investigate and remove hidden surveillance devices along state highways.
Published on Feb. 10, 2026
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More than two dozen privacy and advocacy organizations are calling on California Governor Gavin Newsom to remove a network of covert license plate readers deployed across Southern California that the groups believe feed data into a controversial U.S. Border Patrol predictive domestic intelligence program monitoring millions of American drivers.
Why it matters
The use of covert license plate readers and predictive algorithms to track people's movements raises significant privacy concerns and may violate constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. This surveillance program has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and civil liberties groups.
The details
The groups' researchers have identified about 40 license plate readers in San Diego and Imperial counties, over two dozen of which were hidden in construction barrels. The Border Patrol and Drug Enforcement Administration had obtained permits from the California Department of Transportation to place the readers along state highways. The data collected is then fed into a Border Patrol predictive intelligence program that flags vehicles deemed suspicious based on their travel patterns.
- In November 2025, an Associated Press investigation revealed the U.S. Border Patrol's use of hidden license plate readers.
- On February 10, 2026, the letter calling for the removal of the devices was sent to Governor Newsom.
The players
Gavin Newsom
The Governor of California who the groups are calling on to investigate and remove the covert license plate readers.
U.S. Border Patrol
A federal agency under U.S. Customs and Border Protection that has deployed the hidden license plate readers and is using the data in a predictive intelligence program.
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
A federal agency that has also obtained permits to place license plate readers along California highways and shares data with the Border Patrol.
Electronic Frontier Foundation
A privacy advocacy organization that signed the letter to Governor Newsom calling for the removal of the covert surveillance devices.
Imperial Valley Equity and Justice
A nonprofit organization that signed the letter to Governor Newsom calling for the removal of the covert surveillance devices.
What’s next
The California Department of Transportation and Governor Newsom's office have not yet responded to requests for comment on the letter and the calls for removal of the covert license plate readers.
The takeaway
This case highlights the growing concerns over the use of covert surveillance technologies by law enforcement and federal agencies, and the potential violation of constitutional rights to privacy and due process. It underscores the need for greater transparency and oversight of such programs to protect civil liberties.
