When a vehicle passes an **Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR)**, its plate is captured and instantly cross-referenced against various 'hotlists' of vehicles of interest to law enforcement. The **EFF** has now revealed that one such hotlist, utilized by agencies nationwide, specifically targets immigrants on behalf of **ICE**. **Flock Safety ALPR** systems, widely adopted by local agencies, commonly integrate with the **FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC)** hotlists. These lists are categorized by topics such as "Gang or Suspected Terrorist," "Stolen Vehicle," and "Missing Person." **Flock Safety** clarified to the **EFF** that local agencies manage the addition or removal of license plates from the **NCIC** list, with the **FBI** curating and distributing the main list. The **FBI** does not receive alerts when a local agency is notified. ### The 'Immigration Violator' Hotlist One particular list, the "Immigration Violator" hotlist, stands apart. According to the **NCIC operator manual**, this list is exclusively populated and maintained by **ICE**. It includes license plates linked to administrative warrants, which are issued by **ICE** agents without judicial review. The manual describes the data as containing records on "criminal aliens who have been deported for drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, or serious violent crimes and on foreign-born individuals who have violated some section of the Immigration and Nationality Act." It further states that if **ICE** has "reasonable grounds to believe that the subject may be operating a particular vehicle or a vehicle bearing a particular license plate, the vehicle and/or license data may be included in the record." ### How it Works: Undermining Local Policies Within the **Flock Safety** administrative interface, agencies can subscribe to various **NCIC** topics via a drop-down menu. If "Immigration Violator" is selected, the local agency receives an alert when a vehicle sought by **ICE** is sighted. While **Flock Safety** states **ICE** itself does not receive these alerts directly, local agencies can and often do contact **ICE**. Many agencies also have existing agreements, such as **287(g) agreements**, that facilitate collaboration with immigration enforcement, potentially leading to vehicle stops based on these alerts. This practice often directly contradicts city or state laws, or at minimum, agency policies that prohibit **ALPR** use for immigration enforcement. Yet, by subscribing to this hotlist, agencies are actively engaging in immigration enforcement. For example, the **Sparks Police Department's ALPR** transparency portal explicitly lists immigration enforcement as a "prohibited use." However, records obtained by the **EFF** show that **Sparks** actively utilizes **ICE's** Immigration Violator hotlist.  ### Uncovering Local Agency Practices Many agencies publicly acknowledge using **NCIC** hotlists but do not disclose which specific topics they subscribe to. To shed light on this, the **EFF** filed public records requests with agencies nationwide. The following agencies have responded so far: **Agencies with the Immigration Violators Hotlist Enabled** * [Blue Island Police Department, IL](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28311701-blue-island-police-department-il-ncic-topics/) * [Sparks Police Department, NV](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28311718-spark-police-department-nv-ncic-topics/) **Agencies Using NCIC Hotslists, But Immigration Violators Is Disabled** * [Baraboo Police Department, WI](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28311735-baraboo-police-department-wi-ncic-topics/) * [Boonsboro Police Department, MD](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28311722-boonsboro-police-department-md-ncic-topics/) * [Elmira Police Department, NY](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28311839-elmira-police-department-ny-ncic-topics/) * [Franklin Township Police Department, NJ](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28311726-franklin-township-police-department-nh-ncic-topics/) * [Medford Police Department, OR](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28311721-medford-police-department-or-ncic-topics/) * [New Braunfels Police Department, TX](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28311719-new-braunfels-police-department-tx-ncic-topics/) * [Oro Valley Police Department, AZ](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28311716-oro-valley-police-department-az-ncic-topics/) * [Quincy Police Department, MA](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28311731-quincy-police-department-ma-ncic-topics/) * [Reno Police Department, NV](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28277588-p021152-042826/) * [Roselle Police Department, IL](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28311727-roselle-police-department-il-ncic-topics/) * [Sterling Police Department, IL](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28311732-sterling-police-department-il-ncic-topics/) ### How to Investigate Your Local Agency Understanding whether your local agency has the "Immigration Violator" box checked is crucial for accountability and can influence policy decisions. While it requires diligent investigation, here's a recommended approach: ### STEP 1: Conduct Background Research. Start by answering two key questions: * Does your local agency use **Flock Safety ALPRs**? * Are they utilizing **NCIC** hotlists? To address the first question, explore these resources: * **AtlasofSurveillance.org**: An **EFF** project cataloging law enforcement technologies. Search for your agency to determine **ALPR** usage.  * **EyesonFlock.com**: This site indexes agencies maintaining **Flock Safety** "Transparency Portals." Look for your agency and click the outbound link to their portal.  Once on the transparency portal, look for two specific details: * Is "immigration enforcement" listed as a prohibited use? If so, the agency might be violating its own policies.  * Does the agency list "NCIC" as one of its hotlists?  Even if this information isn't immediately available, proceed to the next step. ### STEP 2: File a Public Records Request. Each state has public records laws allowing citizens to request government information. This can often be done via email to the police department or sheriff’s office, or through an agency's online public records portal. These contact details are typically found on the agency's official website.