2/2/2026
Facial recognition technology has been used lately for surveillance and identification of citizens and non-citizens residing in the United States by ICE agents. Internet browsing and real-time location tracking are also being utilized to monitor civilians. The Department of Homeland Security claims to be using these measures to “fight crime.” They are focusing on both citizens and noncitizens, especially protestors. Currently, ICE has the highest funding out of all law enforcement agencies in the US.
Historically, biometrics and fingerprints were predominantly used to identify individuals. As facial recognition comes into play, agents can identify a wider range of people without coming in contact with them. People are now identified without their knowledge or consent. While being in public, a person cannot protect themselves fully from being documented and photographed. Although this is not questionable in itself, ICE agents have been taking advantage of this fact to follow protestors to their homes and subtly threaten them with the fact that they are tracking them.
Such tools for identification were historically used in airports, ports of entry, and other such venues that required tighter security. As these systems are being integrated into unexpected places, like neighborhood streets, people are less expectant of it and are unable to shelter themselves from being tracked. Nicole Cleland, a resident of Minnesota, was explicitly told by an ICE agent that she was being tracked using facial recognition and cameras. There are other accounts of civilians being informed of their data in the government’s “domestic terrorism” database, whether or not their consent was given.
Clearview AI, Mobile Fortify, and Palantir are technology companies leading the development of AI-based tracking systems. Clearview AI is a facial recognition software with at least 50 billion images in its database as of 2024. Mobile Fortify is an application used by law enforcement agents and ICE agents to use fingerprints or images of faces for identification. Since it is simply an application on their phones, field agents are able to remain inconspicuous and go unnoticed as they document individuals. Palantir was funded $30 million to build an AI system to identify individuals targeted for deportation last year. The government has started using this software to track noncitizens. It has also been used to enforce orders to remove processes related to DEI and gender ideology. Paragon, a software company, built technology to hack into phones and track locations. Penlink, another company, built software to develop profiles of people based on their social media usage. Mobile Fortify was spotted in use by ICE agents to document the faces of protestors in Minneapolis earlier this year. Representatives from Clearview AI claim that their technology was first used to identify crimes involving children and cybercrimes, but it has adapted to use for noncitizen and protestor restriction.
Perhaps the most concerning implication of facial recognition technology development and use is the fact that it is still less reliable than fingerprints and can be used to target the wrong person. There are few checks and balances as law enforcement agents continue to use this software to identify, prosecute, and even kill individuals.
ICE continues to seek technology to tighten surveillance on civilians. They aim to document the names, phone numbers, locations, histories, and other sensitive data of people and businesses.