⚠️ Tell Travis County to YES to immigrant defense & NO to mass surveillance!
ALERT ⚠️ TWO important votes in Travis County Commissioner's Court tomorrow, Sept 10th...
FIRST: Our community needs to offer legal defense for immigrants facing deportation. Legal representation more than doubles the success rate of immigrants facing deportation. Use this link to urge the Court to fund the Public Defender's Office and the Family Unity Pilot.
ALSO: Mass surveillance is up for a vote at tomorrow's county budget hearing. Unfortunately, there's been zero news coverage.
Travis County currently has a $5.5M contract with Axon (a Flock competitor selling law enforcement surveillance tech) and is considering doubling it to $11M. That's a lot more AI surveillance in our communities and a lot less money for things that actually reduce harm.
>> Reminder, ICE loves getting access to mass surveillance data and using it to deport our neighbors!
HOW TO HELP:
- Sign the petition: Fund Community, Not Surveillance
- Email Commissioners Court at commissioners-court@traviscountytx.gov with a quick note that you oppose more spending on ALPRs and mass surveillance. Subject line must include the agenda item number so it's filed correctly on the record. Example: Budget Mark-Up 1 - Public Comment: FY2027 Budget Markup Hearing - AXON contract
- To testify: VIRTUAL: Register at the Commissioners Court portal between 8 PM Tue 9/9 and 8 AM Thu 9/10 (closes sharply with no exceptions). Staff will call you when our agenda item comes up. IN PERSON: Register in advance via the same portal, or same-day at the Commissioners Courtroom entrance starting 8:30 AM Thursday 9/10. Sign-ups close the moment our item is called.