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2.0

Reported: CBP seeks to install surveillance tower in populous CA city

  1. Original Date Announced

    April 24, 2026

    The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) reports that CBP requested permission from the city of San Clemente, CA, to install an Anduril Industries surveillance tower as part of CBP's Autonomous Surveillance Tower (AST) program. The tower will be installed 1.5 miles inland on a ridge, overlooking most of San Clemente. CBP states that the tower's purpose is maritime surveillance focused on offshore activities. Although there are other CBP towers in California, Oakland Privacy states that the San Clemente Anduril tower is "believed to be the first deployment of an Anduril surveillance tower in a densely populated area not located directly on the US-Mexico border."

    City officials raised concerns about resident privacy and proposed an agreement to prohibit surveilling neighborhoods, which CBP rejected. CBP intends to configure the tower to "avoid" scanning residential neighborhoods, but it will remain capable to track people in residential areas during "smuggling" events.

    Trump 2.0 [ID #2263]

    2026.04.26 Reported: California Coastal Community Must Reject CBP's AI-Powered Surveillance Tower - EFF

Current Status

None

Original Trump Policy Status

Status: Reported
Trump Administration Action: Change in Practice
Subject Matter: Enforcement
Agencies Affected: CBP

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