How Border Surveillance Tools Are Being Weaponized Against American Citizens

Government tools intended for one purpose often end up being used against the public. This pattern holds true for border enforcement and immigration crackdowns, where surveillance technology is increasingly directed at American citizens.

In a recent investigation, The Wall Street Journal reporters Shane Shifflett and Hannah Critchfield revealed how federal agencies are leveraging these tools to access sensitive personal data. According to their report, the U.S. is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on systems that provide agents with easy access to:

• Home and workplace addresses of American citizens
• Social media accounts
• Vehicle information and flight history
• Law-enforcement records
• Data to track daily movements

The article highlighted the case of Liz McLellan, a Maine resident who photographed federal agents during an immigration operation. Agents later visited her home, stating, "This is a warning. We know you live right here." McLellan’s actions were entirely legal—courts have consistently ruled that recording law enforcement in public spaces is protected under the First Amendment.

Federal officials argue that publishing agents’ information could disrupt operations, but this activity is also constitutionally protected. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) emphasizes that government officials are not exempt from public scrutiny.

"Government officials and employees don't enjoy special immunity from 'doxxing.' To the contrary, the power they exercise makes it even more important that people be free to criticize them and disclose information that holds them accountable."

In this case, the federal agents used surveillance tools acquired for border control to intimidate McLellan into stopping her lawful monitoring of government activities.

ICE’s Expansive Surveillance Capabilities

According to The Wall Street Journal, the high-tech dragnet built to locate, track, and deport people residing illegally in the U.S. now allows thousands of federal agents to access a database containing information on more than 300 million people, including citizens.

A 2022 report by the Georgetown Law Center on Privacy and Technology, titled American Dragnet: Data-Driven Deportation in the 21st Century, exposed the extent of these capabilities. The report found that as of 2022:

• ICE had scanned the driver’s license photos of 1 in 3 adults
• ICE had access to the driver’s license data of 3 in 4 adults
• Agents were tracking the movements of drivers in cities home to 3 in 4 adults
• The system could locate 3 in 4 adults within seconds

These findings underscore how surveillance tools designed for border security are being systematically repurposed to monitor the broader population, raising serious concerns about privacy and civil liberties.