ICE to Launch 24/7 Social Media Monitoring of Migrants
WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is preparing to implement continuous monitoring of migrants’ social media activity, encompassing photos, geolocation data, and network connections, according to documents reviewed by multiple news outlets. The initiative, slated to begin in the coming months, represents a significant escalation in ICE’s surveillance capabilities and raises concerns about privacy and civil liberties.
The expanded monitoring builds on existing ICE practices of scrutinizing social media, but moves toward a 24/7 operation. ICE intends to utilize advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence to identify and track individuals, assess potential flight risks, and gather intelligence for deportation proceedings.This comes as the agency faces pressure to meet increased detention and deportation targets set by the Trump administration, and is bolstered by a recent budget increase stemming from legislation signed last July 4th.
recent actions signal ICE’s intensifying efforts. Earlier this month, the federal government prompted Apple to remove the ICEBlock app from it’s store, a tool that allowed users to share data about ICE agent locations. Simultaneously, a report by the AP revealed that ICE has spent millions on television advertising campaigns in cities like Chicago and Atlanta, specifically aimed at recruiting local police officers to assist in immigration enforcement. These ads highlight perceived conflicts between “sanctuary city” policies and public safety, stating, “In sanctuary cities, you are ordered not to intervene while risky illegals walk free.”
ICE also plans to hire approximately 10,000 additional deportation officers before the end of 2025. The agency’s increased focus on enforcement has already had devastating consequences, with reports emerging of over 100 children left orphaned after their parents were deported by ICE. The expanded social media surveillance is expected to further accelerate these efforts, impacting not only undocumented individuals but also potentially U.S. citizens connected to them through social networks.
