ICE To Get New Technology To Track Illegal Migrants: Report

Source: Newsweek

Published Dec 26, 2025 at 11:34 AM EST updated Dec 26, 2025 at 12:34 PM EST


Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is reportedly buying millions of dollars’ worth of new surveillance tools as the administration pushes forward with its mass deportation policy. Federal records reviewed by Politico show ICE ramping up spending on surveillance technology, with more than $300 million slated under the Trump administration for social-media monitoring, facial recognition, license-plate readers, and location-tracking services.


Why It Matters

As ICE moves forward with a suite of advanced tracking and surveillance technologies aimed at identifying and locating undocumented immigrants, civil liberties advocates warn the initiative could trigger a sweeping expansion of domestic surveillance that extends far beyond immigrants, potentially ensnaring U.S. citizens and lawful residents as well.

The effort, which has drawn sharp criticism from privacy and rights groups, is part of the Trump administration’s push to deploy new technology across immigration enforcement, a strategy critics say weakens privacy guardrails and normalizes powerful surveillance tools for federal agents.

The tech is expected to play a central role in ICE’s drive to carry out the president’s hard-line and aggressive blueprint for mass deportations.


Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/ice-new-technology-tracking-migrants-11272147