Military Technology · Department of Defense
MQ-9 Predator Drones Monitor US Protesters for First Time Since 2020
The Department of Homeland Security deployed MQ-9 Predator drones over Los Angeles anti-ICE protests in June 2025, marking the first time since 2020 that military-grade surveillance aircraft have monitored domestic demonstrations on U.S. soil. The deployment represents a significant departure from longstanding government policy against flying such drones over protests due to First Amendment concer