The U.S. Border Patrol operates a predictive intelligence program that collects license plate reader data and applies algorithms to flag vehicles as suspicious based on factors such as where a vehicle came from, where it is going, and which route it took; flagged vehicles can prompt local law enforcement stops, searches, and arrests.
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operational
Description of how a vehicle‑monitoring program functions and the downstream law enforcement actions it can trigger.
The U.S. Border Patrol generally operates within a 100‑mile zone from U.S. borders but is legally authorized to operate anywhere in the United States.
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legal
Legal jurisdictional scope relevant to domestic Border Patrol operations.
The Border Patrol's vehicle‑monitoring system incorporates license plate reader data from multiple sources — including Drug Enforcement Administration systems, private companies, and local law enforcement programs funded through federal grants — and deploys cameras that can be disguised in traffic safety equipment like drums, barrels, and traffic cones.
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technical
Sources of data used in the monitoring system and the methods used to deploy sensors.