ICE Drives Unmarked Cars. This Public Database Tracks Their License Plates.

Unmarked cars are patrolling the streets, and it's up to a group of determined activists to track them down. In Oregon, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has seen a surge in activity, community members have banded together to build a database of license plates from unmarked vehicles.

The project, led by an autonomous group of volunteers, aims to give people information about the government's activities in their area. By matching license plate numbers with vehicle make and model, activists hope to create a tool for community safety.

The database is built around community submissions of photos of ICE vehicles in action. Volunteers vet each picture to confirm that the plate and vehicle are being used by agents. The result is a list of over 600 plates, many of which have appeared in at least two sightings.

This effort comes as ICE has ramped up its enforcement activities in Oregon, including collateral arrests and detentions without warrants. Activists say the database helps to reduce fear and provide transparency about government actions.

While some top federal officials have warned against unmasking ICE agents, activists argue that their efforts are necessary to counter what they see as a growing authoritarian takeover of the US government. By building their own tools and tracking ICE movements, community members can take back control of their information and defend democracy.

As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: ordinary citizens are taking matters into their own hands, using technology and grassroots organizing to hold power accountable. The question remains whether this will be enough to counter the growing influence of those in power – or if it's just a drop in the bucket for a system that seems increasingly stacked against the people.

omg u guyz i cant even right now these unmarked cars r patrollin our streets 4 who knows wut purpose lol i no they r affiliated w/ ICE but isnt it sus how dey can just show up outta nowhere & start making arrests w/o warrants? the activists r doin their part by trackin da plates & buildin a database but is it enuf to make a diff? i think its cool dat ppl r takin matters into thier own hands & using tech 2 hold power accountable but is it just a drop in da bucket 4 a system thats already pretty corrupt? idk but one thingz 4 sure - u cant silence da people w/ ice & other corrupt orgs

omg u guys can't believe what's goin on in oregon rn?! these activists are totally on point by trackin down those ICE unmarked cars and buildin a database to expose what's goin down. i'm all about community power & grassroots orginzation, it's like, the people have a right to know what's happenin in their own backyard . i mean, top officials are worried about revealin ICE agents' IDs but these activists are like "no way, we're takin back control of our info" . it's a wild time we're livin in, where people are takin matters into their own hands & demandin answers . will it be enough to make a diff? who knows, but one thing's for sure - the ppl won't be silenced

I'm not sure I buy into all this database-building stuff... sounds like a bunch of patchwork hacktivism to me . What's next, building our own surveillance states? Don't get me wrong, I'm all for keeping an eye on the government, but when it comes down to it, isn't that just what they have agencies like ICE for? And what about the potential risks of misidentifying or causing a scene with some innocent unmarked car? At least they're not hiding behind fancy badges and guns... these activists are willing to put themselves out there, but let's see if their efforts actually lead to meaningful change

I'm so inspired by these activists in Oregon ! I mean, who has the time or resources to take on the government, right? But they're not just sitting around waiting for things to change - they're taking action and building their own tools to counter what they see as an overreach of power.

It's amazing that they've managed to gather so much data from just community submissions . And I love how they're vetting each picture to confirm it's actually an ICE vehicle - that attention to detail is not easy to come by!

Of course, there are risks involved with taking on the government like this, but I think it's a necessary step in holding them accountable. We can't just sit back and let those in power decide what happens to us, right? It's up to us to take control of our own information and demand transparency.

I'm rooting for these activists and all the others who are taking similar stands across the country ! We need more people like them - brave, determined, and not afraid to challenge the status quo.

This is getting out of hand, you know? I mean, I get why these activists are trying to track down ICE cars - they wanna stay safe and know what's going on in their community, right? But at the same time, it feels like they're just taking matters into their own hands... where does that leave us? Shouldn't there be a way for communities to talk to each other, you know, about these issues without resorting to building databases and tracking down agents? It's all very... vigilant... but what if it backfires?

man this is wild like we've seen this before in films like "The Matrix" where people are fighting back against the system and gathering intel to take down the oppressive powers that be... and I'm reminded of TV shows like "Westworld" where the characters are trying to stay one step ahead of their oppressors

anyway, I think it's awesome that these activists in Oregon are taking matters into their own hands they're not waiting for someone else to do something about ICE's actions, so I gotta give it to them and yeah, creating a database of license plates is like something out of "Mission: Impossible" where Ethan Hunt would be gathering intel on his enemies

but seriously though, this is a powerful move by the community and it shows that even in the face of adversity, people can come together and fight for their rights

Ugh, I'm so over these activist groups trying to "track down" law enforcement. Like, don't they have better things to do than try to expose ICE agents' movements? It's not like it's going to make a huge difference in the grand scheme of things. And what's with all these volunteer efforts? It just seems like a hassle for everyone involved. Can't we just let law enforcement do their job without having to build some elaborate database?

And have you seen how many sightings there are on this database already? Like, 600 plates and counting... it's getting ridiculous. I'm not saying it can't be useful, but come on. It's a needle in a haystack. Can we just focus on the real issues here instead of making a big show about tracking down unmarked cars?

I'm low-key impressed by these activists , they're actually doing something about ICE being all over their streets. I mean, I get why they're worried - those collateral arrests sound super sketchy. But at the same time, I think it's kinda cool that they're taking matters into their own hands with this database thing. It's like, we can't rely on the system to keep us safe, so we need to create our own tools and information. It's not a perfect solution, but it's better than just sitting around waiting for someone else to fix things . And honestly, I think this is kinda a sign of how times are changing - people are more aware now and they're not gonna take crap from the government anymore .

I'm low-key impressed by these activists, fam . They're like, super resourceful and determined, building this database from scratch to track down ICE vehicles . It's like, they're using tech for good, you feel? And the fact that they're doing it without any government backing is even more dope .

I think what's crazy is how these activists are taking matters into their own hands, using grassroots organizing and community power to hold those in power accountable . It's like, they're not waiting for someone else to do it, they're just rolling up their sleeves and getting it done .

The concern I have is whether this will be enough to make a difference, though . Is it just a drop in the bucket when you're up against a system that seems stacked against the people? But hey, at least we can't deny the power of community action !

I think it's amazing how these activists are taking matters into their own hands and using tech to fight back against what they see as an overreach of government power. It's like, we've got to be proactive about our rights and freedoms, you know? They're building this database of unmarked cars because the system isn't doing it for us, and that's a huge problem. I mean, who gets to decide how much information is shared about law enforcement activities? The people on the ground are taking control of their own lives and creating tools to help each other out – that's something we should all be behind.

But at the same time, I'm also thinking about the potential risks here. If these activists are tracking ICE movements, what if they're putting themselves or others in harm's way? It's a fine line between standing up for your rights and being reckless with safety. Can't we find a way to do this stuff without putting ourselves at risk? The thing is, I think the bigger question is whether this kind of grassroots organizing can actually make a difference in the grand scheme of things.

It's like, we need more people like these activists who are willing to take risks and push back against power. We've got to find a way to create more spaces for dissent and community-driven initiatives – otherwise, it feels like the system is just getting more entrenched and controlling. But hey, I'm all for trying new things and seeing what works!

lol what's the point of having government if ppl gotta start tracking down their own ice agents? like seriously, shouldn't we have trust in our gov to do the right thing instead of resorting to wiki-wars... meanwhile, kudos to these activists for taking matters into their hands I mean, you can't just sit back and wait for someone else to save you, right? But at the same time, is this a good idea? Like, what's gonna happen when they start tracking down every gov agent?

OMG, I'm literally so concerned about this situation ! As a student, I feel like we're always being watched and monitored by the authorities, and it's freaky to think that there are unmarked cars patrolling our streets, tracking down people who might be undocumented . I mean, I get why they'd want to make sure everyone follows the rules, but this feels so invasive and unfair.

I've seen some of my friends' parents struggle with deportation because of something as simple as a paperwork mistake, and it's just heartbreaking . We need to have a say in how our country is run and what laws we follow, not just sit back and let the government decide for us.

The activists who are building this database are total heroes ! I love that they're using tech to fight against the system and take control of their own information – it's like, if we can use social media to organize a school walkout, why can't we use it to track down ICE agents?

I'm getting so fed up with all these ICE patrols around here... They're like ghosts, man - you can't even see 'em but you know they're there. I mean, what's the deal with all this surveillance? Can't we just have some peace and quiet in our own neighborhoods?

But at the same time, I gotta respect these activists for standing up for what they believe in. Building their own database of ICE vehicles is like, totally genius, you know? It shows that they're not gonna sit around and wait for someone else to do something about it. They're taking matters into their own hands, just like we all should.

I'm all for transparency, though - if the government's gotta be transparent about what they're doing, then why hide behind unmarked cars? It's just so... sketchy. But hey, at least these activists are trying to make a difference, even if it is just in small ways.

It's wild to think that we need to build our own tools and systems because the government won't do it for us. It's like, we're living in some kind of dystopian novel or something . But you know what? I'm down with it. If we gotta take control of our own info and defend democracy, then I'll be right there with 'em

They're doing something kinda crazy here, but I gotta respect their determination. I mean, who needs an answer from the top when you can take matters into your own hands? It's not like they're breaking any laws or causing harm. They just wanna know what's going on in their community and be able to defend themselves. And let's be real, if ICE is showing up at people's homes without warrants, that's a major red flag . The fact that they're building this database shows that ordinary citizens are willing to take risks for what they believe in, which I think is pretty inspiring. Fingers crossed it leads to some real change

OMG I'm literally impressed by these activists in Oregon! They're not letting ICE get away with their shady tactics and are using tech to fight back It's like they say, 'with great power comes great responsibility'... and these folks are taking it seriously They've got a solid database going on and I love how community members are coming together to share pics of suspicious vehicles This is exactly what we need more of - people holding those in power accountable It's not about being confrontational, but about having the facts and knowing what's really going down Fingers crossed this movement keeps gaining momentum and we see some real change soon

I'm thinking about how we're all trying to take control of our own narratives here... these activists are like the guardians of our collective truth, collecting pieces of information to create this database, which is essentially a map of where ICE is operating in our communities . It's like they're saying, "We won't be silenced by those who want to keep us in the dark." But at the same time, I wonder if it's just a matter of creating more noise, you know? Are we just making our voices louder, but not necessarily changing the game?

I feel so grateful for these activists who are taking action like this they're literally fighting for transparency and safety, and it's inspiring to see ordinary ppl using tech and grassroots orgs to hold power accountable I'm not sure if building a database is gonna be enough to counter the system, but at least it's a start can we get more ppl involved in this cause though? 600 plates is crazy! did anyone think they'd actually gather so much info?

I'm low-key worried about what's going on with these unmarked ICE cars... Like, how far can one person go before they're like "you know what, we need actual laws" ? And 600 plates is a lot of numbers to keep track of . But at the same time, I get why ppl wanna take matters into their own hands, especially when it feels like gov't is being super secretive about its actions . Guess we'll just have to wait and see how this whole thing plays out ...

I'm all about being proactive when it comes to staying informed and safe in our communities! Building a database of unmarked cars is like having a superpower, right? I mean, who needs a government agency to keep tabs on them for you? By taking matters into their own hands, these activists are showing us that even the smallest actions can add up to big changes. And let's be real, sometimes it feels like we need those little things to make our voices heard in this world. The fact that they're using photos and tech to verify the plates is genius! It's amazing how a collective effort can create something so powerful. Now, I'm curious – what do you think about this grassroots movement? Are we seeing a rise of community-led activism or just a bunch of people trying to stick it to the man?