Story perspectives

Maine Residents Sue DHS Over Alleged Surveillance Database

2/24/2026

Summary

Story summary

Elinor Hilton and Colleen Fagan, Maine residents, filed a lawsuit against federal immigration officials.
They allege the Department of Homeland Security uses a database to track observers of ICE activities, including license plate readers and facial recognition.
Hilton says agents threatened to place her on a domestic terrorist watch list for filming.
The plaintiffs seek class-action status and data expungement from any watchlist.
DHS denies the existence of such a database.

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Story summary

Elinor Hilton and Colleen Fagan, Maine residents, filed a lawsuit against federal immigration officials.
They allege the Department of Homeland Security uses a database to track observers of ICE activities, including license plate readers and facial recognition.
Hilton says agents threatened to place her on a domestic terrorist watch list for filming.
The plaintiffs seek class-action status and data expungement from any watchlist.
DHS denies the existence of such a database.