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SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. () — San Clemente has become the first Orange County city to allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection to install a surveillance system to monitor the coast. It’s a measure that has caused controversy. Officials say the high-powered camera will be on the lookout for panga boats and will help crack down on illegal immigration.
The camera was approved by San Clemente’s city council in a 3-1-1 vote on Tuesday night. One council member abstained from voting.
“It’s a serious public safety issue, not only for the community, but for the people that are being smuggled ashore,” said San Clemente Mayor Pro Tem Steve Knoblock.
Knoblock initiated the proposal last year and said the ocean-facing camera placed near a water tower off of Avenida Salvador Road will help curb illegal immigration. It will be located near a water tower and another camera that is used for monitoring wildfires.
“We’ve had 18 panga landings on our beaches in the last year or so. Over half of all the Mexican pangas landing in Los Angeles and Orange County have happened right here in San Clemente,” Knoblock said.
Knoblock saw a demonstration of the camera and said it is powerful enough to see if someone is smiling on Catalina Island.
“They’re thermal so they can detect movement at night,” Knoblock said. “They can pierce through fog.”
But the measure has been met with pushback.
Several people spoke out during Tuesday night’s city council meeting, raising concerns about privacy and a lack of local oversight.
“This proposal is the definition of a big brother system,” said one speaker.
“Please do not approve a police state surveillance in our Spanish Village by the Sea,” said another.
Some speakers urged city leaders to vote against it. Councilmember Mark Enmeier was the only one who did.
“It’s very disappointing,” Enmeier said.
Enmeier said he felt like there were alternative options, like placing cameras, instead, on the bluffs or at the end of the San Clemente Pier.
“What we’re told is that if there is a smuggling event and people come into our city that then they can turn on the cameras to look into our city. But we are just told to trust them on this. And I am all for trust, but with verification,” Enmeier said. “I am fearful that we are giving up our civil liberties for the sake of expedient security without any sort of oversight that goes along with it.”
The lease agreement is for a five-year term with the option to renew it three times, totaling 20 years. CBP will pay the City of San Clemente a one-time $10 fee and will cover the cost of monthly utilities.
The ball is in CBP’s court now that the agreement has been approved. Officials say they could begin installation as soon as this week.
City leaders say CBP is also exploring the idea of placing an additional camera at the San Clemente Pier.
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