In the shadows of a rapidly evolving surveillance state, the United States is teetering on the edge of something far more sinister than most imagined possible just a few years ago. What began with immigration crackdowns has metastasized into a sweeping infrastructure of control that now threatens the rights of all Americans—citizens and non-citizens alike.
Right-Wingers Behind Facial Recognition Technology
In 2017, Australian coder Hoan Ton-That emailed his American business partners with a bold plan: deploy facial recognition to help U.S. immigration authorities identify and track migrants. That plan became Clearview AI—a company that scraped billions of online images to build one of the most powerful biometric surveillance systems in the world. With Ton-That’s far-right leanings and strong support for Trump, the technology quickly became a tool for identifying immigrants based not just on facial features but on political affiliations pulled from social media. Anti-Trump sentiment? Left-wing connections? Those became red flags.
Clearview was soon adopted by ICE and law enforcement agencies across the country. Despite a wave of lawsuits and investigations over privacy violations, the company continued to grow. By 2025, Ton-That stepped down, but not before embedding Clearview deeply into the machinery of a government now poised to use it not just on immigrants—but on political dissidents and protesters.
Black Sites and the Death of Due Process
The Trump administration is now arguing before the Supreme Court that it has the right to deport anyone—including U.S. citizens—and strip them of constitutional protections once they are imprisoned abroad. In legal filings, the administration claimed it can establish foreign “black sites” like the notorious “Terrorism Confinement Center” (CECOT) prison in El Salvador to hold detainees indefinitely, even though 75% of the 238 Venezuelans deported there recently had no criminal records. That includes the right to subject them to forced labor, torture, and even death, without legal recourse or oversight from American courts.
If the Supreme Court accepts this framework, the government will have effectively created a legal black hole—a system where due process disappears the moment a plane crosses international airspace. This has already been put into practice. One Venezuelan migrant was deported due to an “administrative error,” and yet the government argues he cannot challenge his imprisonment because he’s now in the custody of a “foreign sovereign.”
The Alien Enemies Act: A 200-Year-Old Trapdoor
The administration’s arguments draw eerie parallels to the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a law that allows the president to detain and deport non-citizens from enemy nations during wartime. Though archaic, this law remains active and ripe for abuse, allowing the president to target individuals based solely on nationality—no crime required, no trial necessary.
Now, its logic is being used to justify expanding surveillance and detention beyond foreign nationals to U.S. residents, and even citizens.
Oops—Wrongfully Deporting Lawful Residents
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a lawful U.S. resident from Maryland, was mistakenly deported to El Salvador. A federal judge ordered his immediate return, but he remains trapped in a Salvadoran detention center as the Supreme Court weighs whether the executive branch can ignore court orders when someone is outside U.S. borders—even by mistake. A DOJ lawyer who questioned the government’s actions was promptly placed on administrative leave, signaling just how little dissent the administration tolerates.
Now Targeting U.S. Citizens
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt recently confirmed that President Trump is exploring legal avenues to deport U.S. citizens to El Salvador—starting with those convicted of crimes, but not ruling out those guilty of lesser offenses. The justification? A prison with a history of human rights abuses is ready and waiting.
Let that sink in.
The government is not just deporting undocumented immigrants. It’s not just imprisoning lawful residents abroad. It’s now laying the legal groundwork to send American citizens—potentially even protesters or political opponents—to foreign prisons, entirely outside the reach of the U.S. legal system.
A Clear Pattern of Escalation
What began as “promises kept” on immigration enforcement has grown into a legal and technological apparatus for authoritarian control. The targets keep expanding: from undocumented immigrants, to lawful residents, to citizens. The punishments are becoming increasingly extreme. And all of it is being built on the back of tools like facial recognition and AI surveillance.
The risk is no longer hypothetical. The trajectory is clear. It’s just a matter of time before peaceful protesters are redefined as threats to national security, and political speech is criminalized with the help of a surveillance system designed to track every face in the crowd.
Protesters’ Guide to Facial Recognition
So what can you do? You start by protecting yourself. Below is a guide on how to shield your identity from facial recognition while attending protests or political events. In this climate, it’s not paranoia—it’s survival.
Face & Identity Obscuring
- Wear a Mask
Use a full face mask, balaclava, or N95-style mask that covers your nose, mouth, and jawline. - Wear Sunglasses or Tinted Goggles
These help block iris and eye shape data used in recognition. - Use Hats or Hoodies
Wide-brimmed hats or hoodies cast shadows and hide the shape of your face and hairline. - Avoid Distinctive Features
Hide tattoos, piercings, or unique hairstyles that can be used to ID you.
Clothing & Accessories
- Dress Anonymously
Stick to plain, dark clothing. Avoid logos, patterns, or anything distinctive. - Cover Your Hands
Gloves can prevent fingerprinting and keep tattoos or scars hidden. - Consider Reflective or Infrared-Blocking Gear
Some materials can interfere with surveillance cameras, especially those using IR light.
Digital & Surveillance Awareness
- Leave Your Phone at Home or Use a Burner
Phones can track location and movements. A burner phone with GPS and Wi-Fi off is safer. - Disable Face Unlock Features
Use PINs or passwords instead—facial biometrics can be forcibly used against you. - Turn Off Biometric Authentication
Disable fingerprint and face ID on all devices before heading out. - Avoid Tagging, Livestreaming, or Posting Photos
Photos can be scraped for IDs—even if you’re masked.
Behavioral Tips
- Travel in Groups
Facial recognition systems are less accurate in dense crowds. - Watch for Surveillance Tech
Drones, mobile surveillance vans, and police bodycams may be scanning. - Know Your Rights
Laws vary by country and state—know what police can and can’t do regarding your identity. - Don’t Assume You’re Anonymous
Even partial images can be pieced together—stay mindful throughout.
