ICE intensifies surveillance of immigrants with facial recognition programs, human tracking, and social media monitoring

"Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is ramping up its surveillance capabilities to advance the government's immigration agenda on an unprecedented scale. According to the federal spending site USASpending.gov, the agency signed contractual obligations in September for a $1.4 billion order the highest in 18 years for the acquisition of new technologies such as an iris-scanning app they plan to use in the field, spyware that can remotely hack smartphones, and location software that can track phone activity without a warrant,"

"Added to all this is the tender for the launch of social media monitoring centers in Williston, Vermont, and Santa Ana, California, which seek to expand the agency's anti-immigrant hunt by collecting data on its targets. The plan (which is subject to change) includes tracking accounts on Facebook, X, TikTok, LinkedIn, Reddit, WhatsApp, YouTube, Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram, Flickr, Myspace, and Google+."

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has committed to a $1.4 billion acquisition of surveillance technologies including an iris-scanning app, smartphone-hacking spyware, and location software capable of tracking phone activity without a warrant. The procurement supports plans for social media monitoring centers in Williston, Vermont, and Santa Ana, California, to collect data across numerous platforms. ICE states the principal targets are undocumented immigrants who have committed serious crimes and domestic terrorism threats. Democratic members of Congress, civil rights advocates, and former officials contend these programs could be used to attack or chill free expression protected by the First Amendment. The White House has not presented evidence tying Antifa to reported violent attacks.

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