ICE expands surveillance technology targeting immigrants and activists
The Trump administration has authorized ICE to purchase multiple surveillance technologies including facial recognition, iris scanning, smartphone hacking capabilities, and cellphone location tracking to target undocumented immigrants and activist groups. Civil rights advocates and lawmakers have raised concerns that these tools could be used to surveil Americans exercising First Amendment rights to protest government policies.
What happened
ICE has signed contracts for multiple surveillance technologies in recent weeks, including iris-scanning apps, spyware capable of remotely hacking smartphones, cellphone location tracking software that operates without court warrants, and Clearview AI facial recognition software.
After President Trump designated 'Antifa' as a domestic terrorist organization, ICE's acting director said the agency would deploy investigators to probe anti-ICE protester networks and track 'ringleaders' and 'professional agitators.'
Reported impact
Democratic lawmakers, civil rights watchdogs and former officials have expressed concern that ICE now has a green line to monitor immigrant communities and carry out broad surveillance of Americans exercising their First Amendment right to oppose government action.
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden stated he was worried about how ICE will use spyware, facial recognition and other technology to trample on the rights of Americans and anyone Trump labels as an enemy.
Index analysis
ICE has relied on surveillance technology for more than two decades, but the recent expansion coincides with Trump administration policies targeting both undocumented immigrants and protest movements.
The surveillance technologies acquired include both biometric identification systems and cellphone tracking capabilities that can operate without judicial authorization.
Governance controls
Former ICE acting director John Sandweg stated that the acquisition and deployment of this technology in this environment would raise substantial concerns.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.