Berkeley police limit surveillance data access to prevent use in federal immigration cases - Local News Matters

Berkeley Police Chief Jennifer Louis reported significant changes to data security practices aimed at preventing surveillance data from being used in federal immigration cases. Following the discovery of searches that included terms related to ICE and CBP, access to the city's automated license plate reader data is now restricted to specific Bay Area agencies. The police department has implemented stricter monitoring of search terms related to immigration and increased oversight of data access to ensure compliance with local policies. In the last year, Berkeley's 52 stationary license plate readers were instrumental in more than 50 arrests and the recovery of 40 stolen vehicles. Additionally, body cameras deployed by officers recorded over 67,800 videos, costing the city approximately $222,000 annually.

The city also utilizes video surveillance cameras at key locations, with footage accessed for various criminal investigations. Drones were deployed in high-risk searches, supported by neighboring police departments, without any cost to Berkeley. These initiatives underscore the city’s commitment to protecting residents from potential immigration enforcement actions.