Immigration and Customs Enforcement Increases Spying for Repression of Protesters and Immigrants
Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (ICE) has rapidly increased its ability to
spy on,
harass and arrest protesters and immigrant workers guilty of no
crime.
Technologies purchased by ICE in recent weeks include spyware
that can
hack into smartphones remotely and monitor contacts and social
media
posts. Cellphone location software now allows ICE to track a
person's
movements without the required court warrant.
Facial recognition software and an iris-scanning app have also been purchased for use in the field. ICE said the software would be used to investigate what it calls "assaults against law enforcement officers," meaning protesters defending people and standing against ICE. This is further evident in the expansion of the fleet of small, remote-controlled drones, which ICE uses to film protesters. ICE is also planning a social media monitoring hub for platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and TikTok to collect information on people and organizations without their knowledge, consent or any crime committed.
None of this is for immigration enforcement, but for waging more brutal, illegal raids of whole communities and repression of demonstrations, including unjust detentions and arrests. It is further indication that more government lawlessness is being sanctioned and unleashed.
President Trump, exercising police powers, gave ICE the green light for increasing such actions when he issued an executive order branding the on-going resistance to ICE and military forces as "domestic terrorism." Using the language of war and emphasizing the need to oppose "the enemy within," ICE and other federal policing agencies have increased their impunity to carry out mass raids using tear gas, pepper balls, flash bang grenades, brutality and arrests against workers, community members and protesters.
The brutality is such that a judge in Chicago has ruled that ICE cannot use tear gas and similar weapons without showing justification and giving two warnings to protesters. The judge, finding ICE did not adhere to the ruling, has now ordered ICE agents to wear body cameras, for evidence of adherence to the orders.
That the raids and brutality will continue protesters have little doubt. Undaunted by the repression, people everywhere are stepping up their organized resistance and rapid response networks, defending the rights of immigrants and all those being detained, beaten, arrested and deported.
(With files provided by Neal Resnikoff. Photo: @paul_goyette)
This article was published in
Volume 55
Number 44 - October 21, 2025
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2025/Articles/TS55445.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca