AMERICAN IMMIGRATION COUNCIL • IRIS
Syracuse, NY Common Council Revokes Flock Safety License Plate Reader Contract and Bans Biometric Surveillance

Policy ID

SYR-LA-2026-3-23
Local Response
Syracuse
Legislative Action

Short Description

The Syracuse Common Council voted to revoke the city’s contract with Flock Safety and replace its automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras after reporting revealed the Syracuse Police Department had inadvertently opted into Flock’s national data-sharing network, exposing local driver data to millions of searches, including thousands of immigration-related queries and direct access by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The council moved to block Flock readers from city streets and switch to a different vendor.

Date Adopted

03/23/2026

Updates

In an earlier November 24, 2025 vote the council blocked Flock readers planned for city property, and in May 2026 it unanimously passed a separate law banning biometric surveillance, such as facial recognition, in most city businesses, citing its use in federal immigration enforcement.

References

See Also

New York Legislature Enacts New Set of Immigrant Protections

05/28/2026
Statewide
Legislative Action
NY

Troy, NY City Council Moves to Defund Flock License Plate Readers Amid ICE Data-Sharing Concerns

03/19/2026
Troy
Legislative Action
NY

Albany, NY Limits Local Cooperation with ICE and Border Patrol

03/09/2026
Albany
Legislative Action
NY