Blog•Mar 8, 2026
The Trailer on the Side of the Road
In early 2026 investigators uncovered hidden license‑plate readers concealed in trailers and other roadside objects across Southern California, revealing a covert surveillance network operated by Border Patrol and ICE. The network feeds license plates, vehicle data, GPS coordinates, and facial images into AI‑driven programs that flag "suspicious travel patterns" and power tools like ICE's Palantir‑based ELITE system. Simultaneously, ICE executed a rapid procurement sprint, securing contracts for spyware, facial‑recognition, and location‑data platforms while doubling its workforce and expanding detention capacity to over 160,000 beds. The expansion is underpinned by massive spending on cloud services from Microsoft, Amazon, and Palantir, embedding commercial tech deeply into immigration enforcement.
