While California restricts data sharing with immigration agencies, the Border Patrol in San Diego pays for access to personal data from the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG).
The Automated Regional Justice Information System (ARJIS) encourages data sharing across the region. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been paying SANDAG for database access since 2006, amidst criticism of Border Patrol and ICE for their treatment of migrants.
San Diego’s increased reliance on surveillance technologies, including a new streetlight camera system, has raised privacy concerns. The city’s Privacy Advisory Board rejected this data integration, and many are concerned about potential misuse by immigration authorities.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria defended the surveillance, while contracts detailing data sharing remain unfinalized. Chula Vista’s sharing of license plate data with immigration agencies sparked controversy, especially given its “Welcoming City” designation. Concerns about surveillance technologies persist, with fears of unaccountable agencies accessing private data.