US Immigration Agency Boosts Armament and Surveillance Spending

The United States immigration agency, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is significantly increasing its spending on weaponry and surveillance technology, according to procurement records analyzed by AFP. This surge in expenditure aligns with the enforcement strategies adopted under former President Donald Trump, as the agency is tasked with deporting a record number of unauthorized migrants.

Recent data reveals that ICE’s spending on arms, ammunition, body armor, and surveillance technology has reached levels that critics argue resemble a paramilitary operation. Since January 20, 2023, ICE has issued purchase orders exceeding $70 million in categories related to small arms and ordnance. In stark contrast, the agency only spent $9.7 million on similar items during the entirety of the previous fiscal year, highlighting the dramatic escalation in its operational capabilities.

Significant Purchases and Contracts

The agency’s procurement activities included notable contracts in September 2023, where it allocated $10 million to Quantico Tactical Incorporated for firearms and magazines, and an additional $9 million on long guns and accessories from Geissele Automatics. Additionally, ICE invested over $10 million in body armor, holsters, and related equipment during the same month.

The escalation in arms purchases coincides with a substantial investment in surveillance technology. In September, ICE spent $3.75 million on software and services from Clearview AI, a company specializing in facial recognition technology. The agency has also acquired products from Magnet Forensics and Cellebrite, both of which develop software to extract data from mobile devices. A significant $30 million contract with Palantir aims to create an “Immigration OS” platform designed to identify unauthorized migrants and track those opting for voluntary return to their home countries.

Furthermore, ICE has reactivated a $2 million contract with Paragon, an Israeli spyware firm, which had been under review during the previous administration due to concerns about potential national security risks associated with such technology.

Concerns Over Surveillance Practices

Alongside its current contracts, ICE is actively seeking proposals for a social media monitoring center. A request for proposals published in early October outlines plans for a center staffed with approximately 30 analysts to provide continuous surveillance for “real-time and mission critical person-specific information” from online activities.

Civil rights advocates express serious concerns regarding the implications of expanded surveillance capabilities. Cooper Quintin, a Senior Staff Technologist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, emphasizes that extensive monitoring could infringe on the right to free expression. He stated, “If people know that ICE is on social media… looking for anybody who demonstrates any sort of allegiance to their [home] country, that’s going to chill people’s willingness to say anything publicly.”

The ability to purchase data through third-party sources raises further concerns. Such practices allow agencies to surveil large populations without obtaining the necessary warrants, according to Quintin.

ICE did not provide a comment when contacted by AFP regarding these developments.

Funding and Operational Capacity

The recent surge in ICE’s purchases is facilitated by a significant budget increase approved in the latest Congressional funding package. The Republican budget passed in July 2024 allocated ICE an operating budget of $75 billion over four years, averaging $18.8 billion per year. This budget is nearly double the agency’s previous operating budget of $9.6 billion for the 2024 fiscal year.

While many government departments face funding constraints due to the current government shutdown, ICE and its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, have largely remained unaffected. However, it is worth noting that the Office of Detention Oversight, responsible for monitoring standards at detention facilities, has been temporarily shut down.

The implications of these developments are profound and raise questions about the direction of immigration enforcement in the United States, particularly as ICE expands its operational capacity through increased funding and enhanced surveillance capabilities.