A covert federal surveillance camera network tied to border enforcement extends into the Maricopa area, according to an investigation published Tuesday by the Arizona Mirror and The Border Chronicle.
The outlets reported that U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Drug Enforcement Administration have deployed automated license plate reader cameras across southern and central Arizona, including a site “near the town of Maricopa, just south of Phoenix,” that sits more than 100 miles from the international border. Border Patrol’s operational authority generally covers a 100-mile zone from U.S. borders, though federal officials say other laws allow agents to operate nationwide.
The devices are part of a broader system that scans passing vehicles and stores license plate data used in criminal and immigration investigations. The investigation found the Maricopa camera, along with similar devices near Apache Junction and Buckeye, sat farthest from the U.S.-Mexico border.
Automated license plate readers, commonly known as ALPR cameras, are widely used by law enforcement agencies nationwide to help identify stolen vehicles, locate suspects and track vehicle movements. Civil liberties advocates have raised concerns about privacy, data sharing and oversight, particularly when the technology is used far from border areas.
Federal officials told the outlets they do not publicly disclose specific camera locations or quantities for security reasons but said the technology is one of many tools used to detect illicit activity and support lawful travel.
The Mirror and Chronicle reported the Maricopa-area camera is part of a surveillance network that can feed data into broader databases accessed by multiple law enforcement agencies.
Maricopa Police Chief Mark Goodman told InMaricopa the department does not enforce federal immigration laws or participate in federal immigration agreements, even as federal agencies may operate independently within city limits.
![Global Water Resources told customers in a Friday letter its proposed Maricopa rate hike has been reduced to about 7%, with any new rates unlikely to take effect before 2027. [InMaricopa file]](https://inmaricopa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Global-Water-180622-_RMC1562-300x200.jpg)
6 Responses
“I am a Conservative and I am for smaller government. I believe in freedom and privacy and how dare you take my taxes or try to take my guns. This is unconstitutional!
What’s that? You’re using it to catch Brown People?
Never mind, that’s totally cool. I’m all for it.”
Wait… BKM is conservative? and you love small government and guns? That’s great! I’m glad you fixed the screw that was loose in your noggin.
Right, but what I don’t understand is how this administration represents these Conservative values?
Small government doesn’t mean adding billions to DHS so its Director can have a man that’s not her husband stuff her like a turduckin…
Or an FBI Director using taxpayer dollars to fly to Milan to party?
It’s almost as if there’s some double standards in play here…
P.S. I’ve been loving hockey for 40 years and that game on Sunday was one of the best I’ve ever seen so I don’t care who celebrates with those guys nor what their political affiliation is (the Tkachuk brothers are crazy MAGA assholes? Not the Tkachuk brothers! They seemed so nice!!!). I do think it is massively hypocritical that Patel used taxpayer dollars to do it, though. That being said, you win that game and get invited to the WH, you go to the WH, and the people on the left saying otherwise are wrong. That’s one of those things where you salute the office not the man.
Conservatives stand for nothing. They prefer being told how to think.
What a waste to impliment stationary cameras away from the boader.
Phones already track people and have cameras, plus they are way cheaper.
Anything to waste tax payer money.
This is an excellent point, actually. Well said.