An Investigation Reveals Border Patrol Is Monitoring Millions of U.S. Drivers

A new Associated Press investigation has uncovered a nationwide surveillance program in which U.S. Border Patrol tracks millions of drivers far beyond the border using a vast network of license plate scanners and algorithmic analysis.

The report shows that cameras collect plate numbers on highways across multiple states, while software analyzes drivers’ routes, travel frequency, and destinations to identify patterns that officials consider suspicious.

Once flagged, local police may be alerted, leading to roadside stops for minor violations such as speeding, signaling errors, or even an air freshener on a mirror. Most drivers have no idea that their movement patterns triggered the stop.

Border Patrol says the system is meant to identify drug-smuggling and human-trafficking networks, emphasizing that it follows federal rules and is allowed nationwide. But AP found the program has expanded rapidly, fueled by federal grants and connections to other agencies’ camera networks.

Critics warn this resembles a domestic intelligence system built without transparency, court oversight, or public debate. Legal scholars say mass, continuous monitoring may soon face constitutional challenges under the Fourth Amendment.