Federal Cameras Secretly Track San Diego Drivers, Raising Privacy Concerns

Covert license plate readers disguised as construction barrels feed data to predictive intelligence programs

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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A coalition of privacy advocates has discovered a network of approximately 40 automated license plate readers hidden throughout San Diego and Imperial counties in California, installed by federal agencies like the U.S. Border Patrol and Drug Enforcement Administration. These sophisticated surveillance devices, disguised inside construction barrels, capture and store license plate data from every passing vehicle, feeding detailed travel pattern databases to federal predictive intelligence programs.

Why it matters

This covert federal surveillance network raises significant privacy concerns, as the data collected could be used to track the movements and behaviors of ordinary drivers without their knowledge or consent. Privacy groups argue that the program circumvents California laws restricting local and federal surveillance cooperation, effectively turning state highways into federal intelligence-gathering networks.

The details

The hidden cameras are part of an advanced automated license plate reader (ALPR) system that can identify supposedly 'suspicious' driving patterns, such as taking longer routes or making multiple trips near the border. These algorithmic determinations then trigger referrals for local traffic stops, transforming routine drives into surveillance opportunities. Privacy advocates argue this mass surveillance violates Fourth Amendment protections, despite courts generally upholding license plate reading on public roads.

  • The hidden cameras were discovered through public records requests by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Imperial Valley Equity and Justice in 2026.
  • An Associated Press investigation from November revealed details about Border Patrol's predictive intelligence program that analyzes ALPR data to identify supposedly suspicious patterns.

The players

U.S. Border Patrol

A federal law enforcement agency that has installed the hidden license plate readers as part of its predictive intelligence program.

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

A federal law enforcement agency that has also installed the hidden license plate readers, sharing data with Border Patrol.

Electronic Frontier Foundation

A digital rights advocacy group that helped identify the hidden surveillance cameras through public records requests.

Imperial Valley Equity and Justice

A community organization that collaborated with the Electronic Frontier Foundation to uncover the hidden license plate readers.

Governor Gavin Newsom

The governor of California, who has been called upon by privacy advocates to investigate and remove the federal surveillance devices.

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What they’re saying

“We must prioritize public safety and privacy.”

— Caltrans spokesperson (Gadget Review)

What’s next

The coalition of privacy advocates has sent a letter to Governor Newsom and Caltrans demanding an investigation and the removal of the federal surveillance devices. The state and federal agencies involved have so far remained largely silent on the issue, creating an accountability gap for drivers whose travel data is being collected and analyzed.

The takeaway

This covert federal surveillance network in California highlights the growing tension between public safety and individual privacy, as advanced tracking technologies are deployed without the knowledge or consent of ordinary citizens. The case underscores the need for greater transparency and oversight around government use of surveillance tools, particularly when they may disproportionately impact immigrant communities near the border.