Key facts
- ICE and CBP spending on surveillance technology has doubled and then soared to record levels.
- ICE and CBP funding includes data brokers, facial recognition, spyware, and AI-powered systems.
- President Trump is exploring a plan for the U.S. government to take direct equity stakes in AI companies.
- The goal of the equity stake plan is to share potential wealth with the public.
- The equity stake plan has support from some political and industry figures.
A recent report indicates a substantial increase in the surveillance technology employed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). Spending on these advanced tools, including artificial intelligence (AI) systems, has doubled and subsequently surged to unprecedented levels. The report details funding allocated for data brokers, facial recognition software, spyware, and AI-powered surveillance systems, highlighting a significant expansion of the government's technological capabilities in monitoring.
