@DailyImmigrant— August 25, 2025
In a move that has sparked sharp debate, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has signed a $30 million contract with data analytics firm Palantir Technologies to develop an artificial intelligence system dubbed ImmigrationOS.
The platform will integrate biometric data, immigration records, and real-time location tracking to identify, monitor, and aid in the deportation of immigrants deemed “removable” under U.S. law. The system is expected to launch a prototype by September 25, with full rollout projected by 2027.
Supporters of the deal, including members of the Trump administration, say the technology will improve efficiency, reduce human error, and modernize immigration enforcement.
But civil rights advocates are alarmed. Critics warn of privacy violations, algorithmic bias, and the risk of wrongful deportations. “This is surveillance on steroids,” said Anthony Romero, Executive Director of the ACLU. “ICE is outsourcing civil liberties violations to Big Tech.”
Palantir, co-founded by billionaire Peter Thiel, has a long history of contracts with U.S. intelligence and defense agencies. Immigrant rights groups are already pushing for congressional oversight into the deal.
