The United States government is expanding its efforts to locate immigrants by relying on private contractors, data tools and artificial intelligence, according to a report by the American Immigration Council. Each month, contractors receive tens of thousands of names from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and are asked to quickly identify the location of these individuals for possible enforcement action. The programme operates at a large scale, with estimates suggesting that more than 1 million people could be targeted.
Under this system, contractors are assigned tasks that include locating individuals, verifying addresses and collecting evidence such as time-stamped photographs of homes or workplaces. They are provided with personal details such as names, dates of birth and last known addresses. Each contractor may handle up to 50,000 cases per month, relying first on digital tools and then moving to physical verification if required.
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In some cases, contractors may collect and share information before ICE directly contacts the individual. This information can be used to support raids, arrests or removal proceedings.
The use of AI allows contractors to handle more cases in less time and operate across wider areas. However, the report highlights that such tools may produce errors. Past incidents involving facial recognition systems have led to misidentification and wrongful detention.
Sharon Bradford Franklin, former chair of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, described the arrangement in earlier reporting, saying, “It’s the same kind of incentive situation.” The comparison points to a system where private actors are rewarded for results, similar to bounty-based models.
The use of private contractors and AI reflects a broader shift in immigration enforcement. The process is no longer limited to government agencies but involves a network of private firms and data providers. This approach increases the scale and speed of surveillance while raising questions about accountability and accuracy.
The report concludes that this system represents a growing model of enforcement where technology and private actors play a central role in identifying and tracking individuals across the country.
A system built on skip tracing
The enforcement model is based on “skip tracing,” a method used to locate individuals through public records, databases and online information. Traditionally used by debt collectors and private investigators, this approach is now part of immigration enforcement by the Department of Homeland Security.Under this system, contractors are assigned tasks that include locating individuals, verifying addresses and collecting evidence such as time-stamped photographs of homes or workplaces. They are provided with personal details such as names, dates of birth and last known addresses. Each contractor may handle up to 50,000 cases per month, relying first on digital tools and then moving to physical verification if required.
Role of private contractors
The report notes that ICE has hired multiple private companies to carry out these operations across the country. Some of these firms have backgrounds in military, intelligence and investigative work. Their role is to act as intermediaries, gathering and verifying location data before it is used by ICE for enforcement actions.(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)
In some cases, contractors may collect and share information before ICE directly contacts the individual. This information can be used to support raids, arrests or removal proceedings.
Use of artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is being used to process large volumes of data and identify patterns that can help locate individuals. These systems can combine information from government records, commercial databases and online sources. Some tools are designed to map connections between individuals, including family or social networks.The use of AI allows contractors to handle more cases in less time and operate across wider areas. However, the report highlights that such tools may produce errors. Past incidents involving facial recognition systems have led to misidentification and wrongful detention.
Incentives and concerns
The contracts include financial incentives tied to speed. Contractors may receive additional payments if they confirm a person’s location within a set time frame, such as seven or 14 days. The report states that this structure may affect how information is gathered and verified.Sharon Bradford Franklin, former chair of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, described the arrangement in earlier reporting, saying, “It’s the same kind of incentive situation.” The comparison points to a system where private actors are rewarded for results, similar to bounty-based models.
Oversight and transparency issues
The American Immigration Council report notes that many details about these contracts remain unclear. Information about data sources, verification processes and error correction mechanisms has not been fully disclosed. In some cases, concerns have been raised about the role of parent companies and their oversight of contractors.The use of private contractors and AI reflects a broader shift in immigration enforcement. The process is no longer limited to government agencies but involves a network of private firms and data providers. This approach increases the scale and speed of surveillance while raising questions about accountability and accuracy.
The report concludes that this system represents a growing model of enforcement where technology and private actors play a central role in identifying and tracking individuals across the country.
