SEATTLE, WA – A new University of Washington study says law enforcement agencies across Washington state have, knowingly or not, shared vehicle tracking data with federal immigration authorities through Flock Safety’s automated license plate reader (ALPR) system — potentially violating state law.

The report, titled “Leaving the Door Wide Open,” was published last week by the UW Center for Human Rights. Researchers found that at least eight Washington police agencies — including those in Arlington, Auburn, Lakewood, Richland, Sunnyside, Wenatchee, Yakima, and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office — directly shared their Flock networks with the U.S. Border Patrol in 2025.

The study also found evidence of what researchers call “back door” access, in which Border Patrol personnel searched data from at least ten agencies that had not authorized federal access. In some cases, Washington police officers allegedly conducted “side door” searches of the system on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies.

Washington’s Keep Washington Working Act prohibits local law enforcement from using public resources for civil immigration enforcement. UW researchers say the findings raise serious questions about whether agencies are complying with that law.

Flock Safety, a Georgia-based company, operates more than 80,000 networked cameras nationwide. The devices record license plates and vehicle characteristics, allowing users to search by car type, color, or even bumper stickers.

UW researchers say discrepancies between system audits and official records make it impossible to know how widespread federal access may be. They are calling for greater transparency and state-level regulation of license plate surveillance systems.