Activists in the Pacific Northwest are mobilizing to track down immigration authorities by building a public database of unmarked cars used for enforcement.
Over 600 license plates have been matched to the make and model of vehicles spotted on the streets, mostly in Portland, Oregon, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have increased their presence in recent months.
The volunteer-built database is a response to ICE's growing activity in the area, including "collateral arrests" where agents detain individuals who are not targeted. This has led to fears among community members about being unfairly detained or arrested.
By creating this public resource, activists hope to make it easier for people to identify and report on government activities that they believe may be suspicious or threatening.
In contrast to centralized databases which could be more vulnerable to subpoenas and takedown orders, the group is using decentralized file-sharing technology.
The initiative has also caught the attention of top officials from the Department of Homeland Security who have issued a warning about those who seek to unmask agents facing prosecution under law.
In an effort to counterbalance this trend, the volunteer-created database aims to be trustworthy and accurate by ensuring each plate listed has been confirmed through multiple sightings.
Over 600 license plates have been matched to the make and model of vehicles spotted on the streets, mostly in Portland, Oregon, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have increased their presence in recent months.
The volunteer-built database is a response to ICE's growing activity in the area, including "collateral arrests" where agents detain individuals who are not targeted. This has led to fears among community members about being unfairly detained or arrested.
By creating this public resource, activists hope to make it easier for people to identify and report on government activities that they believe may be suspicious or threatening.
In contrast to centralized databases which could be more vulnerable to subpoenas and takedown orders, the group is using decentralized file-sharing technology.
The initiative has also caught the attention of top officials from the Department of Homeland Security who have issued a warning about those who seek to unmask agents facing prosecution under law.
In an effort to counterbalance this trend, the volunteer-created database aims to be trustworthy and accurate by ensuring each plate listed has been confirmed through multiple sightings.
just saw that some people are creating a public database to track down ICE cars in Portland... like, isn't that kinda cool? 
I mean, who wouldn't want to know what's going on with those agents, right? They're basically just trying to stay safe and aware of their surroundings. The fact that they're using decentralized tech is pretty clever too - it's all about avoiding centralized databases that could get shut down easily... 
. Like, who needs a public database of unmarked ICE cars? It's not like they're hiding in plain sight or anything 
. And what's with all these "collateral arrests" that are scaring people half to death? Can't they just follow protocol like everyone else? 
. And now the DHS is warning people about it? Yeah, because that's exactly what we need – more red tape and bureaucracy 
.
Building a public database of unmarked cars used for enforcement is like, super clever. I mean, who needs a centralized database when you can use decentralized file-sharing tech? 
It's like they're using the internet to outsmart ICE (no pun intended).
But at the same time, I can see why the DHS officials would be concerned - it's like playing whack-a-mole, right? 
One group creates a database, and then another one pops up to counter it. Maybe instead of trying to shut down the database, we could find ways to have an open conversation with our local authorities about these issues? 
Like, how can we ensure that our concerns are being heard without resorting to DIY databases or vigilantism? 
! It's crazy that ICE is increasing its presence in Portland without any clear explanations - I mean, what's the point of increased enforcement if you're just gonna scare people more? 
. And yeah, centralized databases can be super vulnerable to being tampered with - at least this way, it's harder for governments to mess with.
. And whoa, DHS is already clamping down on this? Guess you don't wanna mess with a community that's organized like this 
!
! The fact that a group of activists is taking matters into their own hands and building a public database to track down ICE agents is both empowering and terrifying at the same time 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to know if someone from ICE is lurking around their neighborhood? But at the same time, it's like they're saying, "Hey, we know what you're up to, and we're not afraid of it."
. It's like they're taking a page out of the hackers' playbook, but instead of stealing credit card numbers, they're fighting against systemic injustice 
.
. I mean, what's going to happen when they get raided by ICE? Will they be silenced or will they keep fighting? Either way, I'm rooting for these activists 
.