AI Enhancements in Immigration Policies
The United States, under President Donald Trump, is ramping up the use of surveillance systems and artificial intelligence (AI) to track and arrest immigrants, raising fears that risks to accuracy and privacy could endanger many individuals caught up in the crackdown. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other immigration control agencies use a suite of AI tools, including facial recognition scanners and robotic dogs patrolling the southern border, to bolster efforts against illegal immigration.
According to Saira Hussain, an attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, many of these AI tools have been in place for years as a legacy from previous administrations. However, now they are being utilized with “a ramped-up scope in terms of who [they are] targeting.” She added that a broader range of people have access to the data gathered by these technologies.
The Expanded Surveillance Dragnet
This enhanced surveillance includes services run by private contractors like Babel Street, which monitor immigrants’ social media accounts to collect personal data. DHS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) utilize this information to track immigrants’ locations, outline family trees, and justify arrest warrants and deportation decisions.
Impact on Foreign Nationals
One notable initiative is the government’s new “Catch and Revoke” program launched under Secretary of State Marco Rubio in March. This program employs AI to surveil the public speeches of foreign nationals, particularly student visa holders, targeting those who may appear to support designated terror groups. Those caught in this dragnet risk immediate visa revocation.
Rubio articulated the program’s goal, stating, “If they’re taking activities that are counter to our … national interest, to our foreign policy, we’ll revoke the visa,” suggesting a severe consequence for those perceived as threats.
Concerns Raised by Rights Advocates
Digital rights advocates express significant concerns regarding the accuracy of AI, pointing out that these systems can generate false information, known as “hallucinations,” that can lead to wrongful arrests and civil rights violations. Paromita Shah of Just Futures Law stated that the reliance on these tools raises alarming issues concerning civil rights abuses.
Looming Questions About Effectiveness
Since Trump’s administration began, there have been multiple incidents of immigration officials acting on inaccurate AI data. This includes cases involving U.S. citizens being wrongfully detained because of erroneous technology assessments. Hussain warns that tech implementations often begin at the border and can infiltrate deeper into society without proper validation of accuracy.
Data Access and Public Concerns
It’s essential to note that surveillance systems do not only target immigrants; they also affect all U.S. residents. A 2021 study revealed that ICE had access to driver’s license data for three out of four U.S. adults, along with public utility records. Emerald Tse from Georgetown Law said, “These data-intensive tools aggregate all these data points, creating associations that can implicate household members, neighbors, and even workplaces.”
The Future of Immigration Enforcement
The Trump administration encourages state-level cooperation through 287(g) agreements, giving local law enforcement access to ICE’s AI tools and private data. This could lead to a vast increase in the number of agents using these technologies to enforce immigration laws.
As Hussain observed, the combination of federal and local technology creates a shared environment for data collection, increasing the capacity for surveillance and enforcement.
As the dynamics of immigration enforcement evolve with AI integration, the implications for accuracy and civil rights remain critical considerations.
