ICE resorts to social media in the United States to monitor "threats": this is how it will operate
The ICE will seek information about people who make negative criticisms against the organization on social networks.
More information: How to request ICE review of a detention to avoid deportation in the United States: step by step
The strengthening of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), due to the immigration policy promoted by President Donald Trump, would provide this agency with the opportunity to monitor and identify direct threats towards the agency through social networks.
According to the official document presented by ICE, which was revealed last November after the Republican candidate's victory in the presidential elections, information was requested from various companies capable of tracking digital platforms, public access databases, the deep web, among others, using facial recognition tools, geolocation, and psychological profiles.
In the letter, ICE mentioned that this initiative aims to identify individuals who repeatedly criticize and make negative comments about the organization through social networks.
Likewise, this action would establish a strategy against the “increase in external threat activity” against ICE personnel, leaders, buildings, and other agency dependents.
However, following the revelation of the agency's request, which had a deadline of January 6, 2025, it has not been confirmed whether ICE will have access to this type of information.
ICE and other agencies have been using this type of information for a long time
Prior to the revelation of ICE's new request, the immigration agency had a contract with the security and intelligence firm Barbaricum, for an estimated amount of 5.5 million dollars.
The agreement, which is set to expire in March, aims primarily to detect potential threats through social networks against ICE personnel, leaders, and other agency workers.
According to the specialized publication Independent, the possible approval of ICE's new request would reinforce the initial contract with the agency Barbaricum to strengthen their surveillance protocols against immigrants and criminals.
This is not the first time a government agency has used a large amount of data to monitor social networks in search of threats. According to an investigation carried out by Independent in 2020, the FBI has requested this kind of information in previous years to track threats against leaders and other persons of interest.
These actions, logically, have been criticized by various human rights organizations as a way to conceal information regarding their operations and the consequent difficulty in monitoring their actions.
Other migrant support groups have also pointed out that what ICE is doing is not only aimed at reinforcing the agency's media image, but also at creating a climate of uncertainty among the migrant community in the United States.
