Since the Patriot Act passed, the surveillance state has scoffed at the concerns of citizens: "You have nothing to be afraid of if you're not doing anything wrong."
Now the state sends masked agents in unmarked vehicles--irregulars, in the parlance of military law--into U.S. cities to conduct unconstitutional raids and warrantless detentions.
At the same time, these agents are using facial recognition software to collect and inventory the identities of peaceful protestors, non-violent observers, and documentarians shielded by the First Amendment.
https://www.npr.org/2025/11/08/nx-s1-5585691/ice-facial-recognition-immigration-tracking-spyware
They are collecting license plate info and showing up at the homes of registered vehicle owners in an attempt to intimidate and discourage them from participating in neighborhood watch activities.
via The Atlantic:
“It was very scary,” Judy told me. “Murdering someone definitely works as an intimidation tactic. You just have no idea what is going to happen.” She said that ICE agents had taken a picture of her license plate and then later showed up at her house, leaning out of their car to take another picture—making it clear to Judy that they knew who she was."
"Green Bean had told me the same thing—that agents had come to her house, followed her when she left, and then blocked her vehicle and screamed at her to “stop fucking following us. This is your last warning.” Green Bean was able to laugh while retelling this. “I just stared at them until they left,” she said."
