The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has created a drone no-fly zone within a 3,000-foot radius of "Department of Homeland Security (DHS) facilities and mobile assets." ## Ban Details The restriction, communicated via a notice to airmen, is similar to those already in place for military bases and Department of Energy research centers. The order appears to criminalize the use of drones to film Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and DHS employees during detention operations. The ban applies not only to fixed locations but also to "vessels, ground vehicle convoys, and associated escorts." The prohibited area extends 3,000 feet horizontally and up to 1,000 feet vertically, configuring as "national defense airspace." Violators face criminal charges, civil penalties, and revocation of drone piloting authorization. Furthermore, drone operators deemed a safety or security threat to protected personnel, facilities, or assets may face countermeasures, including interception, seizure, damage, or destruction of the aircraft. ## Background and Implications The ordinance replaces a previous no-fly zone limited to military bases and Department of Energy sites. Unlike the latter, the new ban applies to DHS agents and vehicles wherever they are. ICE is known for conducting raids across the country without notice. With the rise of cheap consumer drones, activists and protesters have used them to film law enforcement and document abuses. This no-fly zone criminalizes such activity, further limiting the tactics available to protesters to protect people or film ICE brutality. It is unclear whether any specific incident prompted the DHS to request this measure. The DHS itself has used drones to surveil protesters, including in Minneapolis. In 2020, a Customs and Border Protection Predator drone surveilled participants in protests over the killing of George Floyd. Last year, DHS Predator drones flew over anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles. These aircraft were identified via open source flight records and air traffic control audio.