A growing number of videos showing U.S. immigration agents disabling or covering home security cameras during enforcement operations is raising sharp constitutional concerns and intensifying calls for federal oversight.

Thelatest viral clip— posted by David Bier of the Cato Institute — shows an ICE agent walking up to a private home, reaching toward the homeowner’s security camera, and taking it down before officers proceed. Civil liberties experts say the action is not just suspicious, but potentially unlawful.

“Why would an agent need to take down a home security camera,” an attorney asked in his analysis of the viral video,“unless they want to prevent people from seeing what they’re doing? That’s the moment it becomes a likely Fourth Amendment violation.”

The video echoes a February 2025investigation by Denver’s9News, which obtained footage of federal agents placing tape over a Ring camera during an immigration raid at an apartment complex. Civil rights attorneys reviewing that video described the action as “illegal,” “deeply troubling,” and “a blatant violation” of protections against unreasonable searches.

Jason Kosloski, a Colorado civil rights attorney who reviewed the Denver footage, said disabling a private security device is both a federal and state constitutional violation.

“Both the United States Constitution and the Colorado Constitution protect everybody from unlawful and unreasonable searches and seizures,”he told 9News.“That agent is seizing that camera. If there isn’t a warrant, the default is that it’s not lawful.”

Under Colorado law, intentionally tampering with another person’s property can also constitute a criminal offense.

Inside the apartment ICE raided was a migrant family with young children. Attorneys say the legality of an individual’s immigration status does not alter their constitutional protections.

“This goes far beyond just arresting people they believe they have authority to arrest,”Kosloski said.“This goes to the core of what we allow our government agents to do.”

ICE has refused to explain why its agents obstructed the cameras. ATF — also present during the Denver operation — issued a nearly identical statement emphasizing “operational security.”

Civil rights attorneys say the agencies’ silence is not reassuring.

“Without a warrant, the government cannot access your security footage,”said Colorado-based attorney Kevin Mehr.“The reverse is also true: they cannot stop or interfere with recording on private property.”

Even with a warrant, he added, officers do not get unlimited scope.

“A warrant doesn’t give officers the right to do whatever they want,”Kosloski noted.“Tampering with cameras is not authorized. It would require a very specific, immediate safety threat — and nothing in the footage suggests that.”

What alarms experts most is the possibility that the practice is becoming routine.

“We’re seeing ICE agents skirting the law,”Bier wrote.“And people need to understand the implications: if an agent can disable your property because it inconveniences them, that’s a dangerous expansion of government power.”

Mehr put it even more starkly:

“If you’re abiding by the law, why are you covering up security footage?”

Attorneys across the political spectrum argue that regardless of one’s views on immigration enforcement, the underlying constitutional questions should concern every American.

“The harm isn’t just that this happened,”Kosloski said.“It’s that they can get away with it — and that it will keep happening unless there’s accountability.”