Border Protection surveillance tower shelved in San Clemente — for now
- Share via
Controversial plans for a U.S. Customs and Border Protection surveillance tower in San Clemente are on hold indefinitely, according to Rep. Mike Levin.
The San Clemente City Council approved a five-year contract with the federal agency in January to monitor panga boats ferrying undocumented immigrants aboard.
Set to be perched on a hillside overlooking the ocean, the surveillance tower drew protests from residents concerned about potential invasions of privacy, especially as contractual language allowed for onshore monitoring of alleged smugglers.
It also caused concern for Levin (D-San Juan Capistrano) who questioned Department of Homeland Security and CBP officials about the tower.
A new U.S. Customs and Border Protection surveillance system will keep watch over San Clemente’s shores for any incoming panga boats that could be carrying migrants aboard.
“The project was negotiated by the City Council and CBP without my office’s initial involvement,” Levin said in an emailed statement. “I’ve pressed DHS and CBP for answers about why a hilltop residential location was chosen over a shoreline site if the tower is intended for maritime surveillance.”
Earlier this year, Levin also shared concerns with federal immigration officials about a lack of transparency about the tower’s surveillance technology, auditing oversight and privacy protections before CBP officials informed him in late August that the project was on hold.
Why the federal agency decided to hit pause, as was first reported by the San Clemente Times, remains unclear. A spokesperson for CBP did not respond by press time for this story.
San Clemente Mayor Pro Tem Steve Knoblock stirred controversy last year when he initially sought a maritime surveillance system helmed by local residents. That eventually evolved into a contract with CBP to put a $1 million Anduril surveillance tower on a hilltop at the Avenida Salvador reservoir for a one-time $10 rental fee.
Activists opposed to the project believed it would be the first surveillance tower of its kind located in a densely populated area away from the immediate U.S.-Mexico border area.
City officials did not learn of CBP’s decision to shelve the tower indefinitely from the federal agency itself.
Councilmember Mark Enmeier, who lodged the sole vote against the contract in January, was informed that CBP hit pause on the project from Levin earlier this month.
“It was just really apparent from the get go that this was a bad deal,” Enmeier said. “Seeing everything that’s going on with Flock cameras, and surveillance technology in general, and knowing that you know they could use potentially AI with this in the future, I’m very pleased that even CBP now thinks that this is a bad deal.”
Enmeier helped organized a town hall on the surveillance tower in April. He credits the public outcry over it with putting the plans on hold.
Councilmembers authorized up to $1 million in emergency measures, including sand berms, pier repairs and sand replenishment after Hurricane Marie swells caused damages.
“All we have right now is just CBP’s word that they’re not interested in the project at this moment,” Enmeier added. “I would much rather have it put into writing that they don’t want to do this ever.”
Councilmembers who voted to approve the tower’s installation could revisit the terms at a future council meeting.
Levin fought in the Appropriations Committee to secure requirements for more transparency regarding surveillance towers and privacy rules as part of the Homeland Security funding bill.
He will continue to press CBP for answers on the contracted San Clemente tower as he considers those previously provided by officials to be inadequate.
Levin called the project’s pause a “positive step” in the meantime.
“It’s not enough,” he added. “CBP must commit to not using this [hilltop] site.”
