A Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives has put forth a legislative proposal aimed at curtailing the Trump administration's alleged use of military drones for surveillance on American citizens participating in protests.
This initiative, led by Rep. Jimmy Gomez of California, seeks to address concerns over the purported deployment of MQ-9 Reaper drones by the Department of Homeland Security during recent demonstrations against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Los Angeles.
As reported by American Military News, Rep. Gomez introduced the Ban Military Drones Spying on Civilians Act following revelations that drones were allegedly utilized for monitoring activities during the protests.
According to Fox News, Gomez expressed his disapproval on social media, stating, The U.S. government should never use military drones to spy on its own people. Not under Trump. Not under anyone. I introduced the Ban Military Drones Spying on Civilians Act to stop Trumps abuse of power & get these drones out of our neighborhoods.
NBC Los Angeles highlighted that aviation trackers documented the presence of Department of Homeland Security drones in early June, noting their passage through Arizona airspace en route to Los Angeles amidst significant unrest.
Public flight data further corroborated the operation of these drones across Southern California. Gomez, in an interview with NBC Los Angeles, remarked, This is meant to intimidate. This is meant to surveil, to do surveillance of individuals engaged in protest.
The Democratic lawmaker emphasized that the use of military drones in this context could potentially deter individuals from exercising their rights to free speech and assembly. Gomez clarified that the proposed legislation would restrict the Department of Homeland Security's drone usage to border security and anti-smuggling missions, asserting, They have legitimate uses. But I dont believe in the use of these drones for surveilling a protest, no matter if you disagree with what theyre protesting about, they shouldnt be used for those purposes.
Despite the introduction of the Ban Military Drones Spying on Civilians Act, Fox News noted that the bill's progression in the House of Representatives appears unlikely due to the prevailing Republican majority.
This legislative proposal raises critical questions about the balance between national security and civil liberties, particularly in the context of government surveillance practices. As the debate unfolds, it underscores the ongoing tension between maintaining public safety and safeguarding individual freedoms, a cornerstone of conservative values.
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