ICE’s Private Bounty Hunters Use AI to Track Immigrants

The federal government is increasing its efforts to locate immigrants using a large network of private contractors who employ skip tracing techniques.
Skip tracing involves using public records, databases, online information, and surveillance to find individuals, a practice traditionally used for debt collection or private investigations.
Contractors receive tens of thousands of names from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement monthly to identify individuals for potential enforcement actions.
This practice is facilitated by AI and other data tools to enable faster and larger-scale sweeps compared to previous methods.
Thirteen private companies have been awarded contracts worth up to $1.2 billion over two years to provide skip tracing services nationwide, indicating the system’s extensive reach.
The system employs a mix of technology and physical surveillance methods, including taking time-stamped photos of homes and workplaces.
Concerns include the use of AI, which can lead to errors like misidentification, and the incentive structure rewarding speed over accuracy.
There is a lack of public transparency and oversight regarding these contracts, raising significant legal and ethical questions.