US Immigration Agency Expands Arsenal Amid Budget Surge

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency is significantly expanding its arsenal, spending tens of millions of dollars on firearms, ammunition, body armor, and surveillance technology. This surge in procurement follows a substantial increase in the agency’s budget, which critics argue has transformed ICE into a paramilitary force.

According to procurement records reviewed by AFP, ICE’s spending in these categories under the current administration far exceeds that of the previous administration. Since January 20, 2024, ICE has placed more than $70 million in purchase orders for small arms and related accessories. In stark contrast, during the same period in the previous fiscal year, the agency spent approximately $9.7 million on small arms. Notably, in September 2024 alone, ICE ordered $10 million in firearms and magazines from Quantico Tactical Incorporated and an additional $9 million on long guns and accessories from Geissele Automatics. The agency also acquired over $10 million worth of body armor and related equipment that month.

Increased Surveillance and Monitoring Efforts

In tandem with its weaponry expansion, ICE is investing heavily in monitoring and surveillance systems. Recently, ICE spent $3.75 million on software and services from Clearview AI, a company specializing in facial recognition technology. Since the beginning of the second Trump administration, ICE has also purchased tools from Magnet Forensics and Cellebrite, which provide data extraction services from mobile devices. Additionally, the agency has entered into a $30 million contract with Palantir to develop an integrated platform called “Immigration OS.” This system aims to target unauthorized migrants and identify individuals who may be in the process of returning voluntarily to their home countries.

ICE’s surveillance capabilities are set to expand further. A request for proposals published in early October seeks contractors to establish a social media monitoring center staffed with approximately 30 analysts for continuous operation. This center would gather “real-time and mission-critical person-specific information” from social media platforms. Cooper Quintin, a Senior Staff Technologist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, expressed concerns about the implications of such surveillance. He noted that widespread monitoring could inhibit individuals from expressing their views publicly for fear of being targeted.

Budget Increases Fuel Spending Spree

The recent surge in spending by ICE is largely attributed to a significant increase in its operating budget. The Republican budget, passed in July 2024, allocated $75 billion to ICE over four years, averaging $18.8 billion annually. This represents nearly double the agency’s operating budget of $9.6 billion for the previous fiscal year. While other government departments face budget constraints amid a government shutdown, ICE and the Department of Homeland Security have largely remained unaffected, allowing for this aggressive expansion.

Despite the budgetary increase, ICE’s Office of Detention Oversight, which oversees standards at detention facilities, has been shut down, raising questions about the agency’s commitment to regulatory oversight.

ICE did not respond to requests for comment from AFP regarding its recent spending activities or the implications of its expanded capabilities. The ongoing developments highlight a significant shift in the agency’s operational approach and raise important discussions about the balance between enforcement and civil liberties in the context of immigration policy.