Auburn, WA – October 20, 2025:
The City of Auburn and the Auburn Police Department have issued a statement clarifying concerns regarding access to the city’s Flock camera system after reports indicated that the U.S. Border Patrol had gained entry.
Officials stated that the access occurred without the city’s knowledge or consent. “The City of Auburn has not knowingly allowed, nor will we allow, direct access to our Flock system by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Border Patrol, or any other federal immigration enforcement agency,” the department said.
Auburn’s Flock cameras are used exclusively for legitimate law enforcement and public safety purposes. While Flock’s nationwide network allows agencies across the country to share information, city officials emphasized that Auburn has not intentionally granted access to any agency affiliated with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or engaged in immigration enforcement.
After learning that Flock’s “National Lookup” feature might have unintentionally enabled access through the shared network, Auburn Police leadership acted swiftly to disable the feature, preventing any potential backdoor connection to federal agencies.
The department has also introduced enhanced monitoring protocols. Monthly audits are now conducted to review usage data directly from the Flock system, ensuring it is not used for immigration enforcement purposes. Any unauthorized access will result in immediate and permanent revocation.
Additionally, Auburn Police have contacted University of Washington researchers to verify findings and ensure transparency.
Mayor Nancy Backus reaffirmed the city’s stance:
“The integrity of our public safety systems, and the trust our community places in them, is non-negotiable. We will continue to take every measure necessary to safeguard our data, uphold state law, and ensure our technology is used only for lawful and ethical policing purposes.”
City officials reiterated Auburn’s commitment to protecting residents’ privacy, civil rights, and public trust. Regular monitoring will continue to ensure the Flock system aligns with both city and state standards.