Key Takeaways:
- The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency is expanding its use of biometric technologies, including facial recognition and iris scanning, to aid in enforcement operations.
- The agency has awarded contracts to companies such as BI2 Technologies and Palantir to provide these technologies, which have raised concerns among civil rights groups and lawmakers about potential breaches of privacy and lack of oversight.
- The use of these technologies has led to increased surveillance and tracking of immigrant families, causing them to avoid critical medical care and other essential services.
- Experts warn that the use of these technologies could lead to abuse of power and erosion of civil liberties, particularly in the absence of judicial oversight.
Introduction to Biometric Technologies
The use of biometric technologies, such as facial recognition and iris scanning, is becoming increasingly prevalent in the United States. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency is at the forefront of this trend, with a recent contract awarded to BI2 Technologies to provide iris-scanning technology. According to Rachel Levinson-Waldman, director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, "What we are seeing now is a massive jump forward in the expansion of this technology and in the ways it is being used." This expansion has raised concerns among civil rights groups and lawmakers about the potential for breaches of privacy and lack of oversight.
The Use of Biometric Technologies in Enforcement Operations
The ICE agency has argued that the use of biometric technologies enables agents to more quickly and accurately verify identities and immigration status during enforcement operations. However, civil rights groups and lawmakers have raised concerns about the lack of oversight and potential breaches of privacy. For example, a woman in Minnesota alleged in a lawsuit that she was confronted by an ICE agent who used facial recognition technology to identify her, and her Global Entry status was later revoked without explanation. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s office has also used the BI2 iris-scanning system since at least 2011, but only during jail bookings and not in the field.
The History of Biometric Scanning
The use of biometric scanning by federal agencies is not new, particularly after the 9/11 attacks. The executive branch has been given significant powers to surveil citizens and monitor threats. For example, biometric scanning is commonly used at airports to track travelers. However, the use of these technologies in the context of immigration enforcement has raised concerns about the potential for abuse of power and erosion of civil liberties. As Jonathan Wiggs, a TSA official, demonstrated, biometric scanning technology can be used to quickly and accurately identify individuals, but it also raises concerns about privacy and surveillance.
Concerns about Surveillance and Privacy
The use of biometric technologies has led to increased surveillance and tracking of immigrant families, causing them to avoid critical medical care and other essential services. Experts warn that the use of these technologies could lead to abuse of power and erosion of civil liberties, particularly in the absence of judicial oversight. For example, Iván Espinoza-Madrigal, executive director of Lawyers for Civil Rights, noted that "ICE can easily abuse these tools when there is minimal oversight, using them to track people’s movements and activities even in the absence of a judicial warrant or court order." Additionally, the use of these technologies has led to the targeting of people with no criminal history, such as lawful international students, which has pushed surveillance powers built up since the September 11 attacks well beyond their original purpose.
The Role of Private Companies
Private companies, such as Palantir and BI2 Technologies, are playing a significant role in the development and implementation of biometric technologies for immigration enforcement. These companies have been awarded lucrative contracts by the ICE agency, which has raised concerns about the potential for profit-driven motivations and lack of accountability. For example, Palantir’s data intelligence platform has been used by ICE to visualize enforcement targets and filter them by location and criminality. The use of these technologies has also led to the creation of vast databases of personal information, which has raised concerns about data protection and privacy.
The Impact on Immigrant Families
The use of biometric technologies has had a significant impact on immigrant families, causing them to avoid critical medical care and other essential services. Health care providers have reported that immigrant families are skipping routine medical appointments and avoiding critical medical care due to fear of being confronted by ICE. This has led to a decline in public health and well-being, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly. Additionally, the use of these technologies has led to increased anxiety and stress among immigrant families, which has had a negative impact on their mental health and well-being.
Conclusion
The use of biometric technologies by the ICE agency has raised significant concerns about surveillance, privacy, and civil liberties. While the agency has argued that these technologies are necessary for enforcement operations, experts warn that they could lead to abuse of power and erosion of civil liberties. The use of these technologies has also had a significant impact on immigrant families, causing them to avoid critical medical care and other essential services. As the use of biometric technologies continues to expand, it is essential to ensure that there is adequate oversight and protection of civil liberties to prevent abuse of power and erosion of privacy.
