ICE Deportation Technology: What Powers the Crackdown?

President Trump's Immigration Policies and ICE Technologies

During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump prominently featured the issue of immigration control, vowing to implement a significantly increased rate of deportations.

Within his initial eight months in office, approximately 350,000 deportations were carried out. This total encompasses actions taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), totaling around 200,000, as well as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with over 132,000, and nearly 18,000 instances of self-deportation, as reported by CNN.

ICE's Role in Deportation Efforts

ICE has become the primary agency responsible for executing President Trump’s deportation policies. Their operations involve conducting raids in various locations, including residences, workplaces, and public areas, targeting individuals without legal documentation.

To facilitate these efforts, ICE utilizes a range of technological tools designed to identify and monitor both individuals and entire communities.

Technologies Employed by ICE

ICE possesses a diverse set of digital resources to support its mission. These technologies are instrumental in locating and tracking individuals subject to deportation proceedings.

• Facial Recognition Software: ICE leverages facial recognition technology to identify individuals from images and videos.
• License Plate Readers (LPRs): LPR systems are used to automatically capture and store license plate data, potentially identifying vehicles associated with individuals of interest.
• Social Media Monitoring: The agency monitors social media platforms to gather information about individuals' locations, activities, and connections.
• Cell-Site Simulators (Stingrays): These devices mimic cell towers, allowing ICE to track the location of mobile phones.
• Data Broker Contracts: ICE purchases data from private data brokers, gaining access to a vast amount of personal information.

These technologies allow ICE to expand its surveillance capabilities and enhance its ability to locate and detain individuals for potential deportation. The use of these tools has raised concerns regarding privacy and civil liberties.

The implementation of these technologies represents a significant shift in ICE’s operational approach, enabling more extensive and proactive enforcement of immigration laws.

Cell-Site Simulators and Surveillance

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) utilizes a technology referred to as cell-site simulators for the purpose of monitoring cellular phones. These surveillance tools function by mimicking a cellular tower, thereby deceiving nearby phones into establishing a connection.

Upon connection, law enforcement personnel operating these simulators gain the ability to pinpoint the location of phones within range and potentially intercept communications, including calls, text messages, and data traffic.

Terminology and Origins

These devices are commonly called “stingrays,” a name derived from an early model manufactured by defense contractor Harris (now L3Harris). They are also known as IMSI catchers, as they can capture a phone’s unique identifier – the International Mobile Subscriber Identity – which can then be used to identify the device’s registered owner.

Recent ICE Contracts

Over the past two years, ICE has awarded contracts totaling over $1.5 million to TechOps Specialty Vehicles (TOSV), a company specializing in customized law enforcement vehicles.

A contract valued at more than $800,000, dated May 8, 2025, specifies that TOSV will deliver “Cell Site Simulator (CSS) Vehicles” to support the Homeland Security Technical Operations program.

Jon Brianas, president of TOSV, clarified to TechCrunch that the company integrates these simulators into their vehicle designs, but does not manufacture the cell-site simulators themselves.

Controversies Surrounding Cell-Site Simulators

The use of cell-site simulators has consistently sparked debate due to several concerns.

These devices are engineered to connect with all proximate phones, inevitably collecting data from individuals who are not the targets of investigation. Furthermore, authorities have, at times, deployed these devices without securing the necessary warrants.

Secrecy and Legal Challenges

Efforts have been made to conceal the deployment of this technology in legal proceedings. This has included withholding information from courts and, in some instances, accepting plea bargains or dismissing cases to avoid disclosing details about cell-site simulator usage.

A 2019 case in Baltimore revealed that prosecutors were directed to drop charges rather than breach non-disclosure agreements with the manufacturers of the devices.

Clearview AI Facial Recognition Technology

Clearview AI has become a prominent name in the field of facial recognition. The company gained recognition for its claims of being able to identify individuals by searching a vast collection of images gathered from publicly available online sources.

Recent Contract with ICE

Recent reports from 404 Media indicate that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has entered into a new agreement with Clearview AI.

This contract is intended to provide support to ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit. Specifically, the technology will be utilized to aid in identifying both victims and perpetrators involved in cases of child sexual exploitation, as well as assaults targeting law enforcement personnel.

Financial Details of the Agreement

Government procurement records reveal that the newly signed contract is valued at $3.75 million.

Prior Collaborations Between ICE and Clearview AI

This is not the first instance of collaboration between ICE and Clearview AI.

• In September 2024, ICE procured “forensic software” from Clearview AI for $1.1 million.
• The previous year, in 2023, ICE allocated approximately $800,000 to Clearview AI for “facial recognition enterprise licenses.”

These prior investments demonstrate a continued reliance on Clearview AI’s capabilities by the agency.

Lack of Response from Clearview AI

Despite attempts to obtain a statement, Clearview AI has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding these contracts.

The company’s silence raises questions about its transparency and willingness to engage in public discourse surrounding its technology and partnerships.

Paragon Phone Spyware

A $2 million contract was signed in September 2024 between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Paragon Solutions, an Israeli spyware developer. Following the agreement, the Biden administration promptly issued a “stop work order” to assess the contract’s adherence to executive guidelines regarding government utilization of commercial spyware.

This order resulted in a period of uncertainty for the contract, lasting almost a year. However, the Trump administration recently removed the stop work order, effectively reinstating the agreement.

Currently, the practical implications of Paragon’s collaboration with ICE remain undefined.

Contractual documentation indicates the agreement encompasses a complete, proprietary solution, including licensing, hardware, warranty provisions, maintenance services, and training. Unless the initial hardware setup and training phases were completed during the previous year, full operational capacity of Paragon’s system within ICE may still be some time away.

The intended user of the spyware – ICE itself or Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – is also yet to be determined. HSI’s investigative scope extends beyond immigration matters to include areas like online child exploitation, human trafficking, and financial crimes.

Paragon Solutions has consistently presented itself as a spyware vendor committed to ethical practices and responsible development. Now, the company faces a decision regarding the ethical implications of working with ICE under the current administration. Significant developments have occurred for Paragon within the past year.

In December, AE Industrial, a substantial American private equity firm, acquired Paragon with the intention of integrating it with RedLattice, a cybersecurity firm, as reported by the Israeli tech publication Calcalist.

Indicative of a potential merger completion, TechCrunch was directed to Jennifer Iras, the new vice president of marketing and communications at RedLattice, when seeking comment from Paragon regarding the ICE contract’s reactivation last week.

Ms. Iras from RedLattice did not provide a response to requests for comment, either for this report or for a previous article on the subject.

Recently, Paragon became involved in a spyware controversy in Italy, where the government faced accusations of surveillance targeting journalists and activists focused on immigration. Consequently, Paragon severed its ties with Italian intelligence agencies.

• Key Players: ICE, Paragon Solutions, RedLattice, AE Industrial, HSI
• Contract Value: $2 million
• Date of Contract: September 2024

Commercial Spyware is a growing concern for privacy advocates and civil liberties groups. The use of such tools by government agencies raises questions about oversight and potential abuse.

Phone Hacking and Unlocking Technologies

During mid-September, the law enforcement division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), known as Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), formalized a $3 million agreement with Magnet Forensics.

The purpose of this contract centers on the procurement of software licenses. These licenses will empower HSI agents to “retrieve digital evidence, manage the processing of numerous devices,” and “create comprehensive forensic reports,” as detailed in the contract documentation.

Magnet Forensics currently manufactures the Graykey devices, which are utilized for phone hacking and unlocking. These tools provide law enforcement officials with the capability to connect to a secured mobile phone, bypass its lock, and gain access to the data stored within.

In 2023, Magnet Forensics completed a merger with Grayshift, the original developers of Graykey. A request for commentary from Magnet Forensics regarding this matter received no response.

Details of the Contract

The contract explicitly outlines the need for tools capable of handling a wide range of mobile devices and operating systems. This includes both iPhones and Android phones.

HSI intends to utilize this technology in a variety of investigations, including those related to human trafficking, drug smuggling, and national security concerns.

Graykey Technology Explained

Graykey functions by exploiting vulnerabilities in a phone’s operating system. It attempts to guess passcodes or utilize known exploits to gain access to the device’s data.

The technology has been a subject of debate, with privacy advocates raising concerns about its potential for abuse and the lack of transparency surrounding its use.

Privacy Implications

Critics argue that the use of such technology raises significant privacy concerns, as it allows law enforcement to bypass traditional legal processes for accessing personal data.

There are ongoing discussions regarding the need for stricter regulations and oversight of the use of phone hacking and unlocking technologies.

Future Developments

As mobile security technology continues to evolve, the capabilities of tools like Graykey are constantly being updated and refined.

It is anticipated that law enforcement agencies will continue to invest in these technologies to stay ahead of criminals and maintain their ability to access critical digital evidence.

Cellphone Location Data

Recent reports from 404 Media indicate that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) acquired access to a comprehensive surveillance system. This system grants the agency the ability to investigate historical cellphone location data alongside information sourced from social media platforms.

The system is comprised of two distinct products: Tangles and Webloc, both developed by Penlink. A redacted contract discovered by 404 Media details one component’s capability to compile and validate billions of location signals daily. This is achieved through data gathered from hundreds of millions of mobile devices, offering both retrospective and predictive analytical capabilities.

While the contract doesn't explicitly name the tool with this functionality, the description strongly suggests it is Webloc. A previous Forbes article referenced a case study demonstrating Webloc’s ability to analyze a specific location. It can identify trends in mobile device activity, including frequency of visits.

The acquisition of this type of cellphone location data is a widespread practice. Numerous companies collect it through software development kits (SDKs) integrated into common smartphone applications.

Alternatively, data is gathered via real-time bidding (RTB), an online advertising method. RTB involves companies bidding to display advertisements on users’ cellphones based on demographic information or location. A significant byproduct of this process is the accumulation of personal data by ad tech firms.

This collected location data is then typically sold to government agencies through data brokers. This multi-layered process allows authorities to access this information without obtaining a warrant.

The second tool, Tangles, functions as an “AI-powered open-source intelligence” platform. It automates the process of searching and analyzing data from publicly available sources, the deep web, and the dark web, as stated on Penlink’s website.

According to Forbes, ICE allocated $5 million to procure Penlink’s two surveillance tools in September.

Penlink has not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding this matter.

LexisNexis and ICE’s Utilization of Legal and Public Records

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has, for a considerable period, relied on the services of LexisNexis, a data broker specializing in legal research and public records, to aid in its investigative processes.

Recent Freedom of Information Act requests filed by two non-profit organizations brought to light that in 2022, ICE conducted over 1.2 million searches within a seven-month timeframe. These searches were performed utilizing Accurint Virtual Crime Center, a specific tool offered by LexisNexis.

The purpose of these searches was to gather background information pertaining to migrants.

Further revelations, published by The Intercept the following year, indicated that ICE was employing LexisNexis to identify potentially suspicious behavior and scrutinize migrants even prior to any alleged criminal activity.

This practice was characterized by one critic as facilitating “mass surveillance.”

Currently, LexisNexis furnishes ICE with a Law Enforcement Investigative Database Subscription (LEIDS). This subscription grants access to both public records and commercially sourced data, intended to bolster criminal investigations, as evidenced by publicly available records.

The financial commitment from ICE for this service in the current year totals $4.7 million.

Jennifer Richman, a spokesperson for LexisNexis, communicated to TechCrunch that ICE’s utilization of the company’s data and analytics solutions extends back decades and has spanned multiple presidential administrations.

Richman emphasized LexisNexis’ dedication to promoting the responsible and ethical application of data, ensuring full adherence to all applicable laws and regulations.

She stated that the company’s objective is to safeguard the well-being of all U.S. residents.

LexisNexis collaborates with over 7,500 agencies at the federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial levels throughout the United States to enhance public safety and security, according to Richman.

Palantir and its Contracts with ICE

Palantir, a leading firm in data analytics and surveillance technologies, has recently secured multiple contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A significant agreement, valued at $18.5 million and initiated in September 2024, centers around the provision of a database system known as “Investigative Case Management,” or ICM.

The ICM contract’s origins trace back to 2022, when Palantir initially entered into a $95.9 million agreement with ICE. The company, established by Peter Thiel, has maintained a working relationship with ICE since the beginning of the 2010s.

Details of the ICM Database

Extensive reporting by 404 Media, focusing on the technologies utilized in former President Trump’s deportation initiatives – and specifically Palantir’s involvement with ICE – has brought to light the operational mechanics of the ICM database. Recent analysis of the database revealed its capacity to categorize individuals based on a wide range of criteria.

These criteria include immigration status, physical attributes, potential criminal associations, and precise location data. According to 404 Media, a source with knowledge of the system described it as a complex structure comprised of numerous interconnected data ‘tables.’

This architecture enables the creation of detailed reports, for instance, identifying individuals holding a specific visa type, entering the country through a particular port of entry, originating from a designated nation, and possessing a certain hair color – or any combination of hundreds of distinct data points.

Internal Justifications and Further Development

The collaboration between Palantir and ICE, along with the ICM tool itself, generated considerable controversy. This led to internal documents, specifically an internal wiki, being leaked to 404 Media. These documents contained Palantir’s rationale for continuing to work with ICE under the Trump administration.

Beyond ICM, Palantir is currently engaged in the development of another system called “ImmigrationOS.” This is based on a $30 million contract revealed by Business Insider.

The Functionality of ImmigrationOS

According to documentation initially reported by Wired, ImmigrationOS is intended to optimize the “selection and apprehension operations of undocumented individuals.” It aims to provide “near real-time visibility” into voluntary deportations and to monitor individuals who have overstayed their visas.

Originally published on September 13th, with updates on September 18th to incorporate information regarding Magnet Forensics’ new contract, and again on October 8th to include details on cell-site simulators and location data.