Evanston is terminating its contract with surveillance vendor Flock Safety over illegal data sharing with federal agencies, a violation confirmed by a state audit. Despite the city’s Welcoming City Ordinance, which protects against data use for immigration enforcement, Flock was found to have allowed U.S. Customs and Border Protection access to its license plate reader network. The vendor disputes the audit’s findings. After the city deactivated its cameras, Flock controversially reinstalled them, prompting a cease-and-desist order. While law enforcement touts the system’s value in solving crimes, the conflict highlights the severe privacy risks of mass data collection. Advocates warn that such data is easily leveraged for nefarious purposes, and Evanston joins a growing list of cities rejecting the technology to protect civil liberties, including the rights of immigrants and those seeking reproductive or gender-affirming care.