'Weapons Of War:' Surveillance-Drone Ban Considered By LA City Council

LOS ANGELES, CA — City Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez introduced a resolution Wednesday in support of legislation aimed at preventing federal agencies from using drones to surveil people exercising their constitutional rights.

If approved by the City Council, the resolution would be added the city's 2025-26 federal legislative program — formally establishing Los Angeles' support for the bill known as "Ban Military Drones Spying on Civilians Act." Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Los Angeles, introduced the legislation after the Department of Homeland Security deployed a drone over the city during anti-immigration enforcement protests.

"Los Angeles will not stand by while the federal government turns weapons of war against our residents," Hernandez said in a statement.

"Spying on people engaged in peaceful protest is unconstitutional, dangerous, and a direct attack on democracy. This resolution makes clear that our city supports Congressman Gomez's leadership to ensure that military drones have no place in our neighborhoods."

The legislation would prohibit the departments of Homeland Security, Defense, or any other executive agency from using certain military drones for surveillance of people protesting. The bill would also require the president to report annually to Congress on any new or unauthorized use of such aircrafts.

"Military-grade drones have no business flying over our cities, and by bill would put an immediate stop to this," Gomez said in a statement. "People peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights should not have to worry if the government is secretly watching from above. This City Council resolution sends a united message that Los Angeles will not be testing ground for government surveillance."

City News Service