The U.S. Border Patrol's surveillance efforts draw on license plate reader data from nationwide systems operated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, private companies, and local law enforcement programs funded through federal grants.
November 20, 2025
high
operational
Describes the sources of license plate reader data that the Border Patrol may incorporate into its analysis.
The Border Patrol's license plate reader program aggregates data from multiple sources, including license plate readers run by the Drug Enforcement Administration, private companies, and local law enforcement programs funded through federal grants.
November 20, 2025
high
descriptive
Sources of license plate reader data that feed Border Patrol surveillance systems.
As of 2025-11-18, the Drug Enforcement Administration's annual National Drug Threat Assessment and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime's annual World Drug Report have not listed 'Cartel de los Soles' as a discrete trafficking organization.
November 18, 2025
high
descriptive
Major annual international and U.S. drug threat reports document trafficking organizations and, as of the stated date, did not identify 'Cartel de los Soles' as a distinct organization.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration estimates that about 90% of the cocaine that reaches the United States originates in Colombia.
October 24, 2025
high
statistical
DEA national-level estimate about cocaine supply origins
A federal anti-crime task force in Memphis included personnel from 13 U.S. agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
October 10, 2025
high
temporal
Composition of a federal multi-agency task force deployed for local crime operations.
The U.S. Department of Justice can assemble multi-agency federal task forces to address violent crime that include components such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and National Guard troops.
September 15, 2025
high
temporal
Typical composition of DOJ-led federal task forces deployed to support local law enforcement in violent-crime responses.
Federal law enforcement agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) commonly coordinate operations with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for enforcement activities.
high
operational
Interagency collaboration for joint enforcement operations.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is the U.S. federal agency responsible for combating drug trafficking.
high
general
Defines the DEA's mandate in U.S. federal law enforcement.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) states that approximately 90% of the cocaine that reaches the United States originates from Colombia.
high
statistical
DEA estimate on the geographic origin of cocaine trafficked to the United States.
The Border Patrol's vehicleāmonitoring system incorporates license plate reader data from multiple sources ā including Drug Enforcement Administration systems, private companies, and local law enforcement programs funded through federal grants ā and deploys cameras that can be disguised in traffic safety equipment like drums, barrels, and traffic cones.
high
technical
Sources of data used in the monitoring system and the methods used to deploy sensors.