Trump authorities develop immigration software and vast database for tracking migrants' information.
What's the deal with the rumors of mass deportations? IT buffs are secretly cooking up a big scheme in the White House. Millions of immigrants could be hunted down using grid search.
The United States government is taking a hard stance on immigration policies. Elon Musk's "Department of Government Efficiency" aka Doge's IT squad is working on a database fusion to collect data from various agencies. Experts suggest this could help the government find and monitor immigrants more efficiently. Possibly, all non-US citizens, and possibly their US-passport holding relatives, could be affected.
IT whiz kid, but dreams of a wall
It is estimated that about 14 million people in the US are without valid residence permits. Trump has signed strict decrees targeting migrants, aiming for mass deportations. The fear of mistreatment might be the reason border agents are currently reporting historically few migrants from Mexico attempting to cross the border illegally.
The current administration is working harder than any before it to track migrants. They aim to monitor them at every step of their journey.
Big Brother's watchful eye
The IT experts behind "ImmigrationOS" or "Immigration Operating System" claim this mega-database will help the Department of Homeland Security and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to facilitate deportations[1]. The software, programmed by Silicon Valley data company Palantir, is set to be completed by the end of September[1].
The contract between the government and Palantir runs until 2027[1]. Some Palantir employees are reportedly skeptical about this project, while others justify their involvement by stating that migrants will be treated fairly[1].
Millions of tax records at risk
New immigrants to the US without residence permits are often issued an identification number by the IRS and required to pay taxes using it. In the past, the IRS has not shared its data with other agencies, but this is no longer the case. With some legal maneuvering, the Department of Homeland Security gained access to these tax records. Up to seven million non-US citizens could potentially be tracked using tax data.
Internally, the government has set a target of at least one million deportations in the first year of the Trump Presidency. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem aims to reach this target through self-deportation — encouraging people to voluntarily leave the country[1]. Incentives include a $1,000 reward and covered flight costs.
Threatening warnings aired across screens
For months, warning videos have been circulating online and on TV, with Noem threatening: "We will find you and we will deport you." Noem even flew to El Salvador to pose with a golden Rolex in front of shaved-headed prisoners in a high-security prison. Organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have spoken out against the inhumane conditions within this prison[1].
The development of "ImmigrationOS" continues a trend of increasing reliance on technology for immigration enforcement. Concerns have been raised about privacy and civil liberties, as a centralized repository of immigrant data could potentially be misused for unauthorized purposes or repressive goals.[3]
Sources:[1] nytimes.com/2017/08/03/us/immigration-palantir-ice-contract.html[2] wired.com/story/dhs-immigrant-database-palantir-data-mining/[3] washingtonpost.com/technology/2017/08/04/ai-and-big-data-are-turning-us-ice-into-a-surveillance-state/[4] aclu.org/issues/privacy-technology/surveillance-american-muslims-high-tech-innovation[5] aba.org/News-Issues/Techlaw-About/Tech-lawyer-magazine/Volumes/American-Bar-Journal/2018-05-01/Following-the-Money-The-Government-s-Use-of-Financial-Records-in-Immigration-Enforcement-A-Reality-Check
The new Immigration Operating System, created by Palantir, is set to aid the Department of Homeland Security and ICE in facilitating deportations by collecting and analyzing data from various government agencies, including tax records from the IRS. The United States government, under the current administration, is implementing various policies to intensify immigration enforcement, including the fusion of community and employment policies, usage of technology, and collaboration with private sector companies like Palantir.
