US Immigration Agency Boosts Budget for Weapons and Surveillance

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) is significantly increasing its spending on military-grade equipment and surveillance technology, according to procurement records analyzed by AFP. The agency, which operates under the administration of former President Donald Trump, has allocated tens of millions of dollars on firearms, body armor, and monitoring systems as it intensifies efforts to deport unauthorized migrants from the United States.

A review of federal contracts reveals that ICE’s expenditures in these areas are markedly higher than during both the presidency of Joe Biden and Trump’s initial term. Since Trump began his second term on January 20, 2025, ICE has committed over $70 million to purchases classified under “small arms, ordnance, and ordnance accessories manufacturing.” In stark contrast, the agency spent only $9.7 million on similar items from January 20 to October 20, 2024.

In just one month—September 2025—ICE placed orders totaling $10 million for firearms and magazines from Quantico Tactical Incorporated, along with 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 during this period.

Surveillance Spending Escalates

The increase in arms acquisition aligns with a broader spending trend on surveillance technologies. In September, ICE invested $3.75 million in software and services from Clearview AI, a company known for its facial recognition capabilities. Since the beginning of Trump’s second administration, ICE has also procured products from Magnet Forensics and Cellebrite, which specialize in data extraction from mobile devices, as well as Penlink, which provides access to extensive mobile phone location data.

Additionally, ICE has entered into a $30 million contract with Palantir to develop “Immigration OS,” described as a comprehensive platform aimed at identifying unauthorized migrants, particularly those considering voluntary return to their home countries. The agency has also reactivated a $2 million contract with Paragon, an Israeli spyware provider. This contract had been previously reviewed by the Biden administration following a 2023 executive order that prohibited the purchase of spyware potentially detrimental to national security.

Concerns Over Surveillance Practices

Beyond these contracts, ICE is actively seeking proposals to enhance its social media surveillance capabilities. A request for proposals published in early October called for contractors to establish a social media monitoring center staffed with nearly 30 analysts for continuous operations. This center would aim to gather “real-time and mission critical person-specific information” from online activities.

While law enforcement relies on surveillance for various operations, advocates for digital rights express significant concerns regarding its implications for free expression. Cooper Quintin, a Senior Staff Technologist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, stated that the knowledge of ICE monitoring social media could deter individuals from voicing opinions about their home countries: “If people know that ICE is on social media… looking for anybody who demonstrates any sort of allegiance to their [home] country, that’s going to chill people’s willingness to say anything publicly,” he remarked.

The potential for ICE to acquire data through third-party sources raises further issues, as it allows extensive surveillance of the populace without the need for warrants.

ICE’s recent financial commitments have been facilitated by substantial funding from the latest Congressional budget. Passed in July 2024, this budget allocates $75 billion to ICE over four years, averaging $18.8 billion annually. This figure is nearly double the agency’s operating budget of $9.6 billion for the previous fiscal year.

Although other government departments are experiencing budget cuts amid the ongoing government shutdown, ICE and its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, have largely remained unaffected. Nonetheless, a spokesperson confirmed that the Office of Detention Oversight, responsible for monitoring standards at detention facilities, has been closed.

As ICE continues to expand its capabilities, the implications for civil liberties and the balance between security and individual rights remain a topic of intense debate.