ICE Expands Surveillance Capabilities, Sparking Privacy Concerns

Agency uses facial recognition, location tracking, and social media monitoring to build profiles on activists and citizens

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency is rapidly expanding its technological surveillance capabilities, moving beyond traditional law enforcement methods to embrace cutting-edge tools like facial recognition, geolocation tracking, and social media monitoring. This shift, fueled by a substantial budget increase, is raising serious concerns about privacy, civil liberties, and the potential for abuse - not just for undocumented immigrants, but for American citizens as well.

Why it matters

The application of these surveillance technologies by ICE represents a significant erosion of privacy and anonymity, with the potential for discriminatory targeting and wrongful accusations. The centralization of data through platforms like ImmigrationOS also raises concerns about the creation of an unprecedented domestic surveillance apparatus that could be abused or misused.

The details

ICE agents are increasingly utilizing facial recognition technology, even in situations where legal limitations are traditionally stricter. The agency's Mobile Fortify app allows agents to scan faces and instantly access information like names, addresses, and immigration status. Beyond facial recognition, ICE is leveraging a wide array of technologies to build comprehensive profiles on individuals, including geolocation data collection and social media monitoring. All of this data feeds into ImmigrationOS, a centralized system developed by Palantir that uses AI to analyze billions of data points from various government agencies.

  • In recent reports, ICE agents have been identified using facial recognition technology in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
  • The Mobile Fortify app, originally intended for use within 160 kilometers of the southern border, is now being deployed nationwide.

The players

Emily Bells

A resident of Minneapolis who recounted an experience where ICE agents identified her by name and address after a vehicle she was in was approached.

Nicole Cleland

A Minnesota volunteer observing immigration activity who was directly addressed by an ICE agent who stated they had facial recognition capabilities activated on their body camera.

Palantir

The company that developed ImmigrationOS, a centralized platform that uses AI to analyze data from various government agencies.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The proposed 'ICE Out of Our Faces Act' aims to halt ICE's surveillance practices by establishing clearer limits and democratic oversight of the agency's use of surveillance technologies.

The takeaway

The expansion of ICE's surveillance capabilities represents a broader shift towards increased surveillance in law enforcement, with the potential for these technologies to be adopted by other government agencies and even private companies, further eroding privacy and civil liberties.