Portland Council Member Advises Residents on Privacy Measures

Angelita Morillo, a member of the Portland City Council, recently suggested that residents should consider using burner phones and encrypted messaging apps to avoid detection by immigration authorities or federal agents.

In a nearly three-minute video shared on her Facebook, Morillo responded to the deployment of the National Guard in Portland, aimed at protecting ICE facilities. She warned, “Your mobile phone? It’s basically a tracking device.” She went on to explain how phones can reveal users’ locations and connections, implying that organizing with others could lead to being tracked.

Morillo urged individuals to invest in a Faraday cage to block signals from their devices and advised disabling features like fingerprints and facial recognition. If people are actively protesting, she recommended using cash for purchases to maintain anonymity.

Moreover, she highlighted the use of facial recognition technology, citing a recent case involving Robert Jacob Hoops, who was accused of injuring an ICE officer earlier this year. “Most people think covering your face is enough, but you’re still leaving your eyes exposed,” she noted.

Morillo emphasized the importance of attending protests only with trusted companions and staying close to provide support for those arrested. “We believe we will win, but we have to be smarter and better organized than our opposition,” she said.

It appears that the Portland City Council is exploring ways to reinforce its sanctuary policies and limit collaboration with ICE.