Original Date Announced

ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) entered into a $9.2 million contract with Clearview AI for software that "provides a unique level of detailed information of independently tested facial image search technology contained in a proprietary database of 50+ billion facial images, representing the largest and most comprehensive facial recognition database available." Clearview's technology allows HSI "to support a broad range of investigations including identifying, locating, and apprehending suspects."

Trump 2.0 [ID #1976]

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2025.12.18 Reported: ICE Uses a Growing Web of AI Services to Power Its Immigration Enforcement and Surveillance - American Immigration Council

The American Immigration Council reports that DHS updated its AI Use Case Inventory in summer 2025 to make some programs "inactive," and added a new pilot, the LIGER GenAI Toolkit. However, rather than reducing AI use, DHS and ICE have consolidated these functions into large vendor-platforms, like systems by Palantir, Clearview AI, and Paragon, that integrate ID scanning, device analytics, video-audio analysis, and social-media monitoring. "Inactive" programs' capabilities persist within these systems, enabling continuous, real-time surveillance and automated enforcement decisions that are difficult to audit. ICE is also expanding contractor-led social-media monitoring, signaling a shift to "always-on" surveillance pipelines.

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2026.01.29 Reported: The powerful tools in ICE’s arsenal to track suspects — and protesters - The Washington Post

The Washington Post reports that federal immigration officers across Minnesota and beyond are equipped with an expanded arsenal of advanced surveillance technologies such as facial recognition, biometric trackers, license-plate readers, cell-phone location data, spyware, and drones. ICE has thereby broadened its enforcement scope, asserting authority to use these tools not only for immigration enforcement, but also to monitor and investigate anti-ICE protest networks including U.S. citizens. Reports document real-time facial scans of citizens, expanded data purchases from commercial brokers, deployment of cell-site simulators and digital forensics tools, and growing use of drones for surveillance of protests and enforcement operations.

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2026.02.10 CBP - Clearview AI Statement of Work

According to Wired, CBP has a $225,000 contract with Clearview AI for "facial recognition technology and access to a database of over 60+ billion publicly available images collected by the company." The contract provides access to Clearview AI's software for CBP's Intelligence Division, which operates a National Targeting Center.

CBP aims to "identify, target, screen, and interdict inbound and outbound passengers who pose a threat to national security, public safety and lawful trade and travel." The contract indicates that facial-recognition technology will be embedded in CBP analysts’ day-to-day intelligence work rather than reserved for investigations and anticipates that analysts will handle sensitive personal data, including biometric identifiers such as facial images. It requires nondisclosure agreements for contractors with access.