1. United States
2. Wisc.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep concern about the U.S. Border Patrol's secretive program that monitors millions of American drivers nationwide. This invasive surveillance network poses a serious threat to our privacy and civil liberties, reminiscent of practices employed by authoritarian regimes. The program utilizes a vast network of cameras and license plate readers to scan vehicle information across the country. An algorithm then flags vehicles deemed suspicious based on travel routes and patterns. This has resulted in people being stopped, searched, and sometimes arrested, often under pretexts and without probable cause. What's particularly alarming is the program's expansion over the past five years beyond just border areas. The camera network now extends along the southern border and into interior cities like Chicago and Detroit. This overreach allows the Border Patrol to define its own criteria for suspicious behavior, such as making short border trips or using rental cars. This pervasive surveillance not only chills lawful expression and assembly but also raises serious constitutional concerns. The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, yet CBP is secretly tracking millions of Americans' travel patterns and detaining people based on an algorithm, not warrants or evidence. Simply driving should not be considered probable cause for detention or search. The lack of transparency surrounding this program is deeply troubling. Border Patrol has attempted to keep details secret, even in court cases. This secrecy prevents proper oversight and accountability, setting a dangerous precedent for unchecked government power. I urge you to demand full transparency from CBP regarding this program immediately. Congress must insist on clear limitations and accountability measures to protect our fundamental individual rights. Without swift action, these practices will continue to erode our constitutional protections and privacy. Please take immediate steps to investigate this program, hold public hearings, and introduce legislation to halt this unconstitutional mass surveillance. Our democracy depends on your action to safeguard our civil liberties against such egregious overreach.