US Immigration Agency Boosts Spending on Arms and Surveillance

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has significantly increased its spending on weapons and surveillance technology, with tens of millions of dollars allocated for firearms, ammunition, body armor, and advanced monitoring systems. This escalation in budgetary priorities coincides with the agency’s mandate to deport an unprecedented number of unauthorized migrants from the United States. Records reviewed by Agence France-Presse (AFP) indicate that ICE’s expenditures are markedly higher than during both the Biden administration and the earlier Trump presidency.

The agency’s spending in the current fiscal year has surpassed **$70 million** in the category of “small arms, ordnance, and ordnance accessories manufacturing” since the beginning of the second Trump administration on January 20, 2025. In stark contrast, between January 20 and October 20, 2024, ICE spent only **$9.7 million** on small arms and accessories in total. September 2025 saw a particularly notable spike in spending, with ICE placing orders worth **$10 million** for firearms and magazines from **Quantico Tactical Incorporated** and an additional **$9 million** for long guns and accessories from **Geissele Automatics**. The agency also acquired over **$10 million** worth of body armor and related equipment during that month.

Escalating Surveillance Measures

In addition to its firearms purchases, ICE is investing heavily in surveillance technology. In September, the agency allocated **$3.75 million** for software and services from **Clearview AI**, a company specializing in facial recognition technology. Over the past nine months, ICE has also procured products from **Magnet Forensics** and **Cellebrite**, both of which provide tools for extracting data from mobile devices. Furthermore, a **$30 million** contract was secured with **Palantir** to develop an “Immigration OS,” designed to streamline efforts in targeting unauthorized migrants.

ICE is also reactivating a **$2 million** contract with **Paragon**, an Israeli spyware provider. This contract had been under review by the Biden administration following a **2023** executive order that prohibited the acquisition of spyware with potential national security risks. The agency’s renewed focus on surveillance coincides with a request for proposals (RFP) published in early October, seeking contractors capable of establishing a social media monitoring center. This center would staff nearly 30 analysts to provide around-the-clock monitoring of online activities to gather real-time, mission-critical information.

Rights advocates have raised serious concerns regarding the expansive nature of surveillance. Cooper Quintin, a Senior Staff Technologist at the **Electronic Frontier Foundation**, emphasized that extensive monitoring of social media could undermine the right to free expression. He stated, “If people know that ICE is on social media looking for anyone who demonstrates allegiance to their home country, that’s going to chill people’s willingness to say anything publicly.”

Increased Funding Amid Government Shutdown

The recent surge in ICE’s budget is largely attributed to a **$75 billion** operating budget allocated over four years, as passed by Congress in July 2025. This funding provides ICE with an average of **$18.8 billion** per year, nearly double the agency’s previous operating budget of **$9.6 billion** for the 2024 fiscal year. While other government departments face operational cutbacks during the ongoing government shutdown, ICE and its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, have largely remained unaffected.

Despite the surge in funding, a spokesperson for ICE confirmed that the Office of Detention Oversight, responsible for monitoring standards at detention facilities, has been shut down. This reflects a troubling trend as the agency focuses resources on militarization and surveillance rather than oversight and accountability.

As ICE continues to expand its capabilities through increased spending on weaponry and surveillance technology, the implications for civil liberties and community trust remain a pressing concern.