Safety Not Surveillance
Columbus City Council
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The Trump Administration continues to push an aggressive immigration agenda that has intensified fear and instability in cities across the United States, including here in Columbus. With the mass deployment of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) communities are experiencing increased surveillance, raids, and deportations that tear families apart and further instill distrust in public institutions. With their mission of deporting millions by 2028, the Trump Administration is succeeding in its unconstitutional and forcible removal of immigrants, as seen in operations like Operation Buckeye, which resulted in the deportation of more than 200 immigrants.
At the same time, local decisions are aiding these harms. In June of 2025, the Columbus City Council voted unanimously to approve the continued use of Flock Safety.
Flock Safety is a private surveillance company that installs automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras throughout our communities. These cameras do not solely target suspected criminal activity, they collect data on every vehicle that passes, recording license plate numbers, timestamps, locations, and even distinguishing features such as bumper stickers or dents.
While Flock claims that its data is controlled exclusively by local law enforcement and not shared directly with ICE. According to a Flock ICE statement, “Newly obtained audit logs show more than 1,400 searches were done on behalf of ICE in Colorado since June 2024.” This raises serious concerns about how surveillance infrastructure in Columbus could be used to amplify deportations and further harm immigrant communities.
Despite the growing risks to community safety, the expansion of Flock’s surveillance network continues. The people of Columbus demand city leaders to call for an immediate halt to the expansion and use of Flock Safety’s ALPR systems in our communities.
Let’s send a clear message: Central Ohioans are done being watched, tracked, and targeted. It’s time to put communities over cameras. Join us in the fight for Safety Not Surveillance!
Sponsored by
To:
Columbus City Council
From:
[Your Name]
We, the residents of Columbus and the greater Central Ohio region call upon city council members to put an immediate halt on the expansion and use of Flock Safety surveillance among communities. Every person in our community and city deserves to feel safe, and liberated. Yet decisions made by City Council members do not reflect that. As the approval for the use of Flock Security systems can be used to facilitate raids, surveillance, and deportations that separate families. Reports show that ALPR data has been accessed in support of federal immigration enforcement, creating the potential for systems in Columbus to contribute to deportation efforts and the targeting of immigrant communities. This directly affects the community as ICE continues to invoke fear with their aggressive and violent tactics within Columbus. The use of Flock aids in increasing the risk of harm to vulnerable communities. True public safety is derived from accountability. We urge city leaders to take a stand for our rights. This means cutting all ties with Flock.