That the City Manager is requested to consult with relevant departments about the implications of deploying license plate readers and provide recommendations as to whether adjustments in plans for deployment should be made in light of changes since approval in February

O-10 FIRST IN COUNCIL September 8, 2025 City of Cambridge COUNCILLOR NOLAN COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER WHEREAS: The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has been reported to be active in Cambridge, and recent actions by ICE around the country—including in Somerville and Worcester—have raised concerns about the safety of community members and the legality of the agency’s actions; and WHEREAS: In carrying out immigration enforcement, the current federal administration has been using surveillance data collected and sold by companies including Flock Safety, and the ACLU has expressed concern that Flock is building nationwide mass-surveillance infrastructure through technology such as cloud-connected Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) systems; and WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge accepted an Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grant to deploy license plate readers which was adopted prior to these recent and increasingly aggressive federal actions, and before the recent updates to the city's Welcoming Cities Ordinance; and WHEREAS: Even before this recent reporting, a significant number of community members and several Councillors had opposed the surveillance technology request due to concerns about this possibility; now therefore be it ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to consult with relevant departments about the implications of deploying license plate readers and provide recommendations as to whether adjustments in plans for deployment should be made in light of changes since approval in February; and be it further ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the Council in a timely manner.