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uwchr.bsky.social
University of Washington Center for Human Rights
@uwchr.bsky.social
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We partner with organizations on the front lines of local & global human rights struggles to conduct research in the service of real-world social change.
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uwchr.bsky.social
University of Washington Center for Human Rights @uwchr.bsky.social · Jan 8
Our new report, “Roadside Assist,” reveals ongoing pathways through which Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) allows access to drivers’ data by fed immigration enforcement agencies.

Read more: www.tinyurl.com/NletsWA
Report cover: Roadside Assist: Washington State’s Continued Sharing of Drivers’ Information with Federal Immigration Enforcement. Stylized collage shows a masked Customs and Border Protection agent looks at a white work van, a goldenrod beam coming from the agent’s eyes. The agent holds a phone that is connected by lines to a web of circles featuring logos and icons of institutions that share data, assisting the agent in immigration enforcement. These include the WA Department of Licensing, Washington State Patrol, Nlets, ACCESS, DHS, ICE, and more.
uwchr.bsky.social
Through Nlets and the WA Department of Licensing, federal immigration enforcement agents can look up your vehicle's plate number and find out your name, your address, and more.

WA state could cut off ICE/CBP access to DOL data.
Concerned about Flock? Wait until you hear about Nlets. Read the reports: 1) Leaving the Door Wide Open: Flock Surveillance Systems Expose WA Data to Immigration Enforcement. www.tinyurl.com/WAflock 2) Roadside Assist: Washington State's Continued Sharing of Drivers' Information with Federal Immigration Enforcement tinyurl.com/NletsWA
February 10, 2026 at 9:50 PM
uwchr.bsky.social
For years, people inside the NW ICE Processing Center have sounded the alarms about conditions and treatment at the facility.

A lawsuit filed last Wednesday in Pierce County Superior Court describes some of the abuses that people detained there endure.

www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
New allegations against Tacoma ICE detention center staff emerge
A 31-page complaint makes sweeping allegations, including falsifying reports, sham investigations denying medical care and hiring racist guards.
www.seattletimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:34 PM
uwchr.bsky.social
Prosser becomes first Benton County city to stop using Flock ALPR surveillance systems, as controversy over access to the data grows.

UWCHR research cited: www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/c...
Controversial Flock license plate readers shut off by another Eastern WA city
The city’s cameras had been used by a Texas sheriff’s office to track a woman suspected of traveling for an abortion
www.tri-cityherald.com
January 29, 2026 at 8:47 PM
uwchr.bsky.social
"They wouldn't have pulled him over if they didn't know his name and they found that out from the Department of Licensing data."

Looking for a good overview of WA Dept. of Licensing-ICE/CBP data sharing?

Tune into this episode of @citycastseattle.bsky.social:
seattle.citycast.fm/podcasts/how...
How ICE Is Violating State Law and Why Seattle Center Needs a Glow Up - City Cast Seattle
Today on the podcast, Jane and contributor Marcus Harrison Green are joined by UW Center for Human Rights Director Angelina Godoy to discuss their...
seattle.citycast.fm
January 27, 2026 at 7:49 PM
uwchr.bsky.social
"It is never safe, it is never democratic, to empower any law enforcement agency to effectively become a secret police—and ICE has been doing that for a very long time."

UWCHR's Angelina Godoy joins @inthemeanwhile.bsky.social podcast, listen here:
inthemeanwhile.bsky.social In The Meanwhile @inthemeanwhile.bsky.social · 19d
ICE is everywhere, but so is resistance to it. This week on the pod, we go deep on immigrant rights, human rights, and why aboloshing ICE is the baseline with UW Human Rights expert Angelina Godoy. @angelinagodoy.bsky.social.

Listen in!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Ep 35: Immigrant Rights are Human Rights with Angelina Godoy
Podcast Episode · In the Meanwhile · 01/23/2026 · 1h
podcasts.apple.com
January 27, 2026 at 4:43 PM
uwchr.bsky.social
Research update: WA DOL continues its "roadside assists" to ICE/CBP immigration investigations

UWCHR researchers have verified 6 additional cases where WA drivers were arrested by ICE/CBP following a search of WA DOL data, at least 2 of which are confirmed to have been civil immigration arrests.
Research update: ​​WA DOL continues its “roadside assists” to ICE/CBP immigration investigations. Since publishing the Jan 8, 2026 “Roadside Assist” report, UWCHR researchers have verified six additional cases where WA drivers were arrested by ICE/CBP while driving, following a search of their license plate number in the WA DOL’s database via Nlets.At least two of which are confirmed to have been civil immigration arrests.
January 26, 2026 at 8:58 PM
uwchr.bsky.social
Nueva investigación:
Las autoridades federales de migración están accediendo a la base de datos del Departamento de Licencias de WA a través de un sistema de intercambio de datos llamado Nlets, administrado localmente por la Patrulla Estatal de WA.

Lee el resumen ejecutivo: tinyurl.com/NletsWAesp
Asistencia en carretera: El estado de Washington sigue compartiendo datos de conductores con las autoridades federales de inmigración. Nueva investigación: Las autoridades federales de migración están accediendo a la base de datos del Departamento de Licencias de Washington a través de un sistema de intercambio de datos llamado Nlets, administrado localmente por la Patrulla Estatal de Washington.
January 22, 2026 at 7:40 PM
uwchr.bsky.social
Fed agents in MN appear to be accessing driver and vehicle data.

"Agents took photos of Levy and other observers’ license plates. Then a masked agent walked up to Judy Levy’s passenger side window. The agent said: 'Hello Judith. How are you today?'"

In WA, CBP agents can query DOL data via Nlets.
mprnews.org MPR News @mprnews.org · 29d
Activists allege ICE tracked and intimidated Minnesotans observing their operations using private data like license-plate and car-registration info — data that, advocates say should only be accessed during active criminal investigations. The ACLU of Minnesota calls for answers and accountability.
Privacy advocates: ICE using private data to intimidate observers and activists
MPR News has looked into reports that federal agents have accessed private data to track and intimidate anti-ICE activists since the immigration crackdown surged in Minnesota in December. Privacy advo...
www.mprnews.org
January 16, 2026 at 12:13 AM
uwchr.bsky.social
#UW Students: Looking for funding for your #humanrights research and projects?

We have funding for you!

Our 2026 application cycle is open Feb 9 - Mar 19.

Learn more about our funds here:
jsis.washington.edu/humanrights/...

Join an info session:
jsis.washington.edu/humanrights/...
Student funding for human rights research and projects APPLICATIONS OPEN FEB 9 - MARCH 19, 2026 jsis.washington.edu/humanrights/funds THE FUNDS: Abe Osheroff & Gunnel Clark Endowed Fund Undergraduate & graduate students Up to $5,000 available Supports projects that promote social change through direct action Dr. Lisa Sable Brown Endowed Fund Graduate students Up to $2,100 available Supports research on abolition of modern day slavery in its many forms Peter Mack & Jamie Mayerfeld Endowed Fund Graduate students Up to $4,300 available Supports studies & research about human rights Are you doing research on a human rights topic? Working on a project promoting social change? We have funding for you! Learn more about our three funds and apply! Funding is open to students from all three UW campuses. No citizenship or permanent resident status required. JOIN AN INFO SESSION: jsis.washington.edu/humanrights/events Wed, Jan 28, 12-1 pm, THO 403 Wed, Feb 11, 3-4 pm, VIRTUAL Thurs, Feb 26, 3-4 pm, VIRTUAL Mon, Mar 9, 10 -11 am, VIRTUAL
January 14, 2026 at 8:24 PM
Reposted by University of Washington Center for Human Rights
theurbanist.org
The University of Washington Center for Human Rights reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is still accessing state license data to aid mass deportation, despite state efforts to limit such access.

Story: www.theurbanist.org/2026/01/12/u...
UW Report: Immigration Agents Still Accessing WA Driver Data » The Urbanist
# The University of Washington Center for Human Rights reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is still accessing state license data to aid mass deportation, despite state efforts ...
www.theurbanist.org
January 12, 2026 at 11:04 PM
uwchr.bsky.social
“These folks are real Washingtonians who have been affected. They are people with lives and families and communities and rights, and they have been harmed by the fact that the DOL allows these agencies to access its data.” - Angelina Godoy, UWCHR director

washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/01/08/i...
ICE searched WA driver’s license data into November, report finds • Washington State Standard
Despite vows to restrict immigration agents' access to Washington license information, the data sharing continued, researchers said Thursday.
washingtonstatestandard.com
January 9, 2026 at 6:43 PM
uwchr.bsky.social
Our new report, “Roadside Assist,” reveals ongoing pathways through which Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) allows access to drivers’ data by fed immigration enforcement agencies.

Read more: www.tinyurl.com/NletsWA
Report cover: Roadside Assist: Washington State’s Continued Sharing of Drivers’ Information with Federal Immigration Enforcement. Stylized collage shows a masked Customs and Border Protection agent looks at a white work van, a goldenrod beam coming from the agent’s eyes. The agent holds a phone that is connected by lines to a web of circles featuring logos and icons of institutions that share data, assisting the agent in immigration enforcement. These include the WA Department of Licensing, Washington State Patrol, Nlets, ACCESS, DHS, ICE, and more.
January 8, 2026 at 10:54 PM
uwchr.bsky.social
ICYMI: UWCHR's Phil Neff joins the @rangemedia.co podcast to talk Flock—how Flock's automated license plate readers work, what they do, and the effects they’re having on the people in our communities.

Listen here: rangemedia.co/pod-diving-b...
The POD: Diving Back Into Flock – RANGE Media
Plus, an update on the trials of Spokane protestors.
rangemedia.co
December 29, 2025 at 5:48 PM
uwchr.bsky.social
We're very excited to be supporting a new project at the Center for Human Rights, led by the Puyallup Tribal Historic Preservation Department, in partnership with UW faculty Dr. Rocha Beardall and a team of graduate and undergraduate researchers.

Learn more: jsis.washington.edu/humanrights/...
Tribal Historic Preservation Department staff and UW researchers stand in front of Puyallup Tribe of Indians mural/wall art.
December 19, 2025 at 8:32 PM
uwchr.bsky.social
ICYMI: DHS signs contract to purchase 6 planes for ICE Air fleet.

"It's interesting how much of what we know about ICE Air, and deportation flights in general, comes from WA state."

Hear @mckenziefunk.com share about how ICE Air works now, and what we might expect:
www.kuow.org/stories/what...
What might an "in-house" deportation fleet mean for DHS & ICE?
DHS is in the process of purchasing six Boeing 737s to create their own deportation fleet. ProPublica immigration reporter McKenzie Funk joins Soundside to talk about what that might mean for the futu...
www.kuow.org
December 19, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Reposted by University of Washington Center for Human Rights
rangemedia.co
In WA, Skamania County and the cities of Olympia, Redmond and Lynnwood recently turned off their cameras, at least temporarily. The changes came after @uwchr.bsky.social 's report exposing weaknesses in the security of Flock cameras and a county court ruled data collected by ALPRs is public record.
December 19, 2025 at 12:31 AM
uwchr.bsky.social
In a letter yesterday to ICE, congressional members demand answers for lack of access to medical care, inadequate provision of meals, and barriers to accessing legal counsel at the NW ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, WA.

Read the full letter: www.murray.senate.gov/wp-content/u...
Exclusive: WA Congress members flag deteriorating conditions at Tacoma detention center in letter to ICE
Conditions have deteriorated for detainees at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, warn several Washington Congress members, as Immigration and Customs Enforcement detains more immigrants at...
www.kuow.org
December 17, 2025 at 10:31 PM
uwchr.bsky.social
How do local, out-of-state, and federal agencies search Flock databases?

The next installment in @rangemedia.co's series on Spokane County's use of Flock surveillance technology dives into that question, looking at immigration related searches.
rangemedia.co RANGE Media @rangemedia.co · Dec 10
“Alien.” “Ice pick-up.” “immigration violation.” Reporting from RANGE revealed more than 1,000 immigration searches were made on Spokane County Flock cameras this year, including hundreds of searches made by Border Patrol and Homeland Security:
“Alien.” “Ice pick-up.” “immigration violation.” – RANGE Media
More than 1,000 immigration searches were made on Spokane County Flock cameras this year.
rangemedia.co
December 11, 2025 at 8:04 PM
uwchr.bsky.social
After more than four decades, perpetrators of the 1981 El Mozote massacre in El Salvador may finally face justice. This week, a Salvadoran judge opened the door to a trial of the former Minister of Defense and 12 officers of the U.S.-trained battalion. More info from @cristosal.bsky.social below.
cristosal.bsky.social Cristosal @cristosal.bsky.social · Dec 9
📢 #JusticeForElMozote | The case of the El Mozote massacre and surrounding areas has moved into the public trial phase — a decisive step toward a public hearing after more than four decades of struggle by the victims.

Read our full statement
#ElSalvador
December 10, 2025 at 8:21 PM
uwchr.bsky.social
This Wednesday, celebrate #InternationalHumanRightsDay by joining us at UW Bothell for a showcase of student research from the Washington, D.C. Human Rights Seminar!

Dec 10, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
North Creek Events Center, UW Bothell

calendar.washington.edu/bot_campus/H...
Students involved in the Washington, D.C. Human Rights Seminar pose for a picture.
December 9, 2025 at 12:29 AM
uwchr.bsky.social
What do we mean when we say ICE is accessing Flock data?

Hear from UWCHR's Phil Neff on @opb.org discussing findings from our recent report, "Leaving the Door Wide Open: Flock Surveillance Systems Expose Washington Data to Immigration Enforcement."

Listen here: www.opb.org/article/2025...
Flock audits reveal multiple forms of access to local automated license plate reader systems by federal agencies and out of state law enforcement, including “front door” access via 1:1 sharing; “back door” access, in which records reveal searches despite direct sharing not being explicitly enabled, likely through Flock's undisclosed "pilot program" which gave Border Patrol access via the system's "National Lookup" function; and “side door” access, in which local users make searches of networks to which they have access on behalf of federal immigration agencies, with keywords such as “ICE” or “immigration”.
December 5, 2025 at 8:43 PM
uwchr.bsky.social
"'Had an abortion, search for female' is not a valid reason for a search under the [Spokane County Sheriff's Office] policy, Gregory said, because abortion is not a crime in Washington."

Who is searching Spokane County's data from their 60+ Flock cameras, and why?

rangemedia.co/flock-safety...
Texas deputy searched Spokane County Flock cameras for a woman who had an abortion– RANGE Media
Amidst nationwide and state scrutiny of the cameras, Spokane County’s Flock network was used by an out-of-state cop looking for a woman who had an abortion.
rangemedia.co
November 26, 2025 at 11:58 PM
uwchr.bsky.social
New report from @hrw.org and @cristosal.bsky.social covers experiences of Venezuelan nationals sent by the Trump administration to El Salvador's CECOT prison.

"The prison director told us, 'You have arrived in hell.'"
hrw.org Human Rights Watch @hrw.org · Nov 12
NEW: The Venezuelan nationals the US government sent to El Salvador in March and April were tortured and subjected to other abuses, including sexual violence.

In a new report, HRW and @cristosal.bsky.social provide a comprehensive account of the treatment of these people in El Salvador.
November 12, 2025 at 10:50 PM
uwchr.bsky.social
"The real question is not just, 'Does this solve crime?' It’s, 'What kind of infrastructure are we building for the future, and who ultimately controls that data?' The long-term civil liberties risked are far greater than the advertised short-term benefits."

www.heraldnet.com/opinion/edit...
Editorial: Law enforcement tool needs review, better controls | HeraldNet.com
Data from some Flock cameras, in use by police agencies, were gained by federal immigration agencies.
www.heraldnet.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:36 PM
uwchr.bsky.social
"I have a detainee here who has been assaulted and would like to file a police report."
"Do you want officers to respond to do the report?"
"I just need a case number."

What happens when someone tries to report an assault from inside the NWDC?

jsis.washington.edu/humanrights/...
October 30, 2025 at 4:14 PM