US Immigration and Customs Enforcement is moving forward with plans to establish a round-the-clock social media surveillance operation, hiring nearly 30 private contractors to monitor platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, and Reddit for deportation leads, according to federal contracting documents reviewed by Wired.The surveillance program would operate from two ICE targeting centers—the National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center in Williston, Vermont, and the Pacific Enforcement Response Center in Santa Ana, California. Vermont would employ 12 contractors while California would host 16 staff members working in shifts to ensure 24/7 coverage.
Tight turnaround times and AI integration planned
Contractors would face strict deadlines for processing cases, Wired reported. Urgent matters involving national security threats or individuals on ICE’s Most Wanted list must be researched within 30 minutes, while high-priority cases require completion within one hour. The agency expects contractors to meet these deadlines in at least 75 percent of cases.The program would also incorporate artificial intelligence and provide analysts with commercial databases like LexisNexis Accurint and Thomson Reuters CLEAR, which compile property records, phone bills, and vehicle registrations into searchable profiles. ICE has allocated over $1 million annually for surveillance software subscriptions.
Growing concerns over privacy and mission creep
Privacy advocates warn the surveillance could extend beyond immigration enforcement. The Electronic Privacy Information Center has sued ICE over its use of data brokers, calling it a “significant threat to privacy and liberty.” The American Civil Liberties Union argues such bulk data purchases help ICE circumvent warrant requirements.This initiative follows other controversial ICE surveillance contracts, including a $2 million deal with Israeli spyware company Paragon and agreements with facial recognition firm Clearview AI. The agency’s main database, built by Palantir Technologies, already uses algorithmic analysis to generate enforcement leads.ICE defends the program by stating that “previous approaches which have not incorporated open web sources and social media information have had limited success.” The agency did not respond to Wired’s request for comment. The project remains in the request-for-information stage before formal bidding begins.
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