Key facts
- Spending on surveillance technology by ICE and CBP has soared to record levels.
- Contracts with 11 surveillance tech companies are projected to reach $513 million in 2026.
- Funding for data brokers, analytics software, social media scrapers, facial recognition, and spyware is highlighted.
- Palantir and Anduril are key companies receiving significant contract awards.
- The DHS also funds research and development through programs like SBIR, channeling money to startups.
A new report details the significant expansion of surveillance technology used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), with spending on these tools, including artificial intelligence, soaring to record levels during Donald Trump's second term.
The analysis, conducted by Mijente, Just Futures Law, and Surveillance Resistance Lab, found that contracts awarded to 11 companies providing surveillance technology doubled from 2024 to 2025, reaching over $310 million, and are projected to hit a record $513 million in 2026. This marks a substantial increase from the under $50 million spent in 2013.
The report attributes this growth to major contracts with data analytics firm Palantir and defense company Anduril, which develops AI-powered surveillance systems. ICE is utilizing taxpayer funds for a wide array of tools, including data brokers, social media scrapers, facial recognition technology, hacking devices, and spyware.
Beyond purchasing technology, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) actively shapes and funds its development through programs like the Silicon Valley Innovation Partnership and the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) initiative. The SBIR program alone has provided $845 million to over 500 companies since 2004, including funding for tools to harvest biometric data and analyze CCTV feeds.
Paromita Shah, executive director of Just Futures Law and a report author, expressed concern over the lack of congressional oversight for ICE and the agency's access to substantial funding, which she described as a "slush fund." She highlighted the use of facial recognition technology and the potential for creating databases of individuals who object to agency actions.
The report also points to the significant influence of companies like Palantir, whose data management services are integral to ICE operations. Data broker Equifax is also identified as a supplier. The use of drones and specialized tools for extracting data from devices, such as Berla iVE, further illustrates the expanding surveillance capabilities.