The agency responsible for overseeing the immigration policies implemented during Donald Trump”s administration is significantly increasing its budget for weapons and surveillance technology. Recent procurement records indicate that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has allocated tens of millions of dollars towards firearms, ammunition, body armor, and cutting-edge surveillance tools. This spending surge far exceeds the amounts allocated during both the Biden administration and Trump”s initial term.
ICE”s primary responsibility has been to deport a record number of unauthorized migrants from the United States. Data from federal contracts suggests that the agency is evolving into a more militarized entity, with a budget that rivals the military expenditures of some smaller nations. Since the start of Trump”s second term, ICE has placed over $70 million in orders within the category related to small arms and ammunition. In stark contrast, during the same period in 2024, the agency spent only $9.7 million on similar items.
In a notable instance, ICE placed a $10 million order for firearms and magazines with Quantico Tactical Incorporated in September, alongside another $9 million order for long guns and accessories from Geissele Automatics. Furthermore, the agency invested more than $10 million in body armor, holsters, and other related gear within the same month.
This substantial procurement of weaponry coincides with a parallel increase in expenditure on monitoring and surveillance software. In September, ICE allocated $3.75 million to acquire software and services from Clearview AI, a company known for its facial recognition technology. Over the nine months since the beginning of Trump”s second term, ICE has also procured tools from Magnet Forensics and Cellebrite, both of which specialize in extracting data from mobile devices, as well as services from Penlink, which grants access to location data from millions of mobile phones. Additionally, ICE renewed a $30 million contract with Palantir to develop “Immigration OS,” an integrated platform designed to target unauthorized migrants and identify those considering voluntary return to their home countries.
Moreover, the agency has reactivated a $2 million contract with Paragon, an Israeli spyware provider, which had previously been under review by the Biden administration due to concerns raised about potential national security risks associated with spyware procurement.
In addition to current contracts, ICE is actively seeking bids for initiatives aimed at enhancing its social media surveillance capabilities. A recent request for proposals called for contractors capable of establishing a social media monitoring center staffed with nearly 30 analysts, tasked with gathering “real-time and mission-critical person-specific information” from online platforms. Rights advocates have voiced substantial concerns about the implications of extensive social media surveillance on the right to free expression, with experts noting that knowledge of ICE”s monitoring presence could deter individuals from publicly expressing their views.
Recent purchases by ICE have been made feasible due to a substantial increase in funding allocated to the agency under the latest Congressional budget. The Republican budget passed in July granted ICE an operating budget of $75 billion over the next four years, averaging $18.8 billion annually, which is nearly double the agency”s previous budget of $9.6 billion for the 2024 fiscal year. While many other government departments are facing operational constraints due to the ongoing government shutdown, ICE and its parent organization, the Department of Homeland Security, have largely remained unaffected. However, a spokesperson confirmed that the Office of Detention Oversight, which monitors standards at detention centers, has been closed.
