As a lifelong Orange County resident and local elected official, I have spent years making decisions about public safety. Local governments cannot do that work alone and often depend on partnerships with regional, state, and federal public-safety agencies. Those partnerships are important, but they should not come at the expense of transparency and accountability.
In January, the San Clemente City Council voted 3-1, with one abstention, to allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection to install a surveillance tower on city-owned land. The agreement came before the council after months of discussions between city staff and CBP over the proposed surveillance system. CBP says the system will monitor the coastline for vessels suspected of human smuggling. There is no question that human smuggling is dangerous, but law enforcement can address that threat without giving up local oversight and transparency.
Under the agreement, CBP will control and operate a $1 million surveillance system at the Avenida Salvador Reservoir, including the tower and the footage it collects. The system includes radar, cameras, sensors, and communications equipment. In discussing the agreement, CBP said it could not accept specific language restricting surveillance of residential areas, stating that the system could be needed to track suspected smuggling activity on land.
That is concerning because it leaves the city with limited oversight of a powerful surveillance system operating on public land.
As a councilmember, I have supported the responsible use of technology to help law enforcement investigate crimes and keep our community safe. But those tools should have a clear public-safety purpose, meaningful oversight, and rules governing access to the information they collect.
Communities should not be asked to provide public land for powerful surveillance technology without meaningful safeguards governing how it is used. Basic questions matter: What information can the system collect? How long can it be stored? Who can access it?
As surveillance technology becomes more powerful and widespread, the rules governing its use need to keep pace.
My years in local government have taught me that residents expect us to solve problems without sacrificing transparency and accountability. They want safe neighborhoods, responsive government, and confidence that their elected officials are looking out for them.
Residents of San Juan Capistrano and northern San Diego County deserve to know when powerful government surveillance technology is being deployed in their communities.
We can stop human smuggling and protect our coastline while also insisting that surveillance technology be governed by clear rules and meaningful oversight. Public safety and local accountability are not competing priorities. Good government should deliver both.
Sergio Farias is a San Juan Capistrano City Councilmember, former Mayor, and candidate for Assembly District 74.
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