‘We should be worried’: report sheds light on ICE’s booming arsenal of hi-tech surveillance tools

2026-06-24 · Source: AI (artificial intelligence) | The Guardian · Field: Government & Public Sector — Public Safety & Security, Public Policy & Governance, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning · Depth: Novice, medium

Summary

A new report by immigration rights organization Mijente, legal advocates Just Futures Law, and research group Surveillance Resistance Lab reveals a significant increase in US government spending on immigration surveillance technology. Contracts awarded to 11 tech firms by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) doubled from \$310 million in 2024-2025 to a record \$513 million in 2026, up from under \$50 million in 2013. This growth is largely driven by major contracts with Palantir and Anduril, which provide AI-powered surveillance systems, border towers, drones, and sensors. The report details ICE's use of taxpayer funds for data brokers, analytics software, facial recognition, hacking devices, and spyware. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) actively shapes tech development through initiatives like the Silicon Valley Innovation Partnership and the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, which has provided \$845 million to 500 companies since 2004.

Key takeaway

For policy makers overseeing immigration enforcement, this report highlights an urgent need for increased transparency and oversight of surveillance technology contracts. You should scrutinize the rapid expansion of AI-powered tools and significant funding to private firms like Palantir and Anduril. Consider implementing stricter accountability measures to prevent civil rights violations and ensure public consent, especially regarding facial recognition and data broker partnerships. Your focus must be on balancing national security with fundamental privacy protections.

Key insights

Government immigration agencies are rapidly expanding AI-powered surveillance, raising significant civil rights and oversight concerns.

Principles

• Government funding shapes surveillance tech development.
• Lack of oversight exacerbates civil rights risks.
• Data analytics firms gain significant operational power.

Method

The report analyzed ICE and CBP contracts with 11 surveillance tech providers, tracing spending trends and identifying key companies and technologies used for tracking migrants.

In practice

• Investigate government tech contracts for transparency.
• Monitor agency funding initiatives for early tech trends.
• Assess data broker partnerships for indirect surveillance.

Topics

• Immigration Surveillance
• Government Contracts
• AI-powered Surveillance
• Facial Recognition
• Data Brokers
• Palantir Technologies

Best for: Investor, Policy Maker, AI Ethicist, Legal Professional

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by AI (artificial intelligence) | The Guardian.