Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has confirmed flying MQ-9 Predator surveillance drones over the Los Angeles protests to support federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The drones, equipped with high-altitude surveillance technology, have been deployed amidst increased ICE raids and arrests under the Trump administration, sparking demonstrations in Los Angeles. Despite CBP’s assurance that the drones are not surveilling first amendment activities, recent reports indicate LAPD helicopter threats towards protesters. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security released a video featuring drone footage with a CBP watermark, zooming in on protestor activities.

This revelation of drone usage follows previous instances of DHS drone deployment during the George Floyd protests in 2020, where over 270 hours of surveillance footage were collected in 15 US cities. The LAPD has also escalated surveillance efforts, requesting Ring doorbell footage from Amazon during the George Floyd protests in Los Angeles. The growing concern over the use of drones and surveillance technologies in monitoring protests raises questions about privacy rights and the potential chilling effect on first amendment activities. As tensions continue to escalate between law enforcement agencies and protestors, the ethical implications of aerial surveillance during demonstrations are brought to the forefront of public discourse.