The Tech Arsenal That ICE Has Deployed in Minneapolis
By Sheera Frenkel and Aaron Krolik
Published January 30, 2026 | Updated January 31, 2026
Minneapolis, MN – In the wake of ongoing protests and increased enforcement activity in Minneapolis, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has reportedly expanded its use of advanced technology tools to identify and track not only undocumented immigrants but also American citizens participating in demonstrations against the agency’s presence.
On January 10, Nicole Cleland, a 56-year-old volunteer with a local watchdog group, experienced this surveillance firsthand. While following an ICE agent through the streets of her hometown, Richfield, Minnesota, Ms. Cleland was unexpectedly confronted by the agent who approached her vehicle. The agent addressed her by name, informing her that facial recognition technology was being used and that his body camera was recording the interaction. Prior to this encounter, Ms. Cleland had never met the officer.
Ms. Cleland is among at least seven American citizens who, within the same month, were notified by ICE agents that their faces had been scanned using facial recognition technology. This revelation came through local activists and social media videos, which have been independently verified. Importantly, these individuals had not provided consent for their biometric data to be collected, highlighting concerns about privacy and surveillance overreach.
The deployment of facial recognition technology is part of a broader suite of surveillance tools that ICE is utilizing in Minneapolis. According to three current and former Department of Homeland Security officials speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information, the agency is aggressively using these technologies amid a significant crackdown involving thousands of agents.
Among the technology programs in use are two facial recognition systems: one developed by Clearview AI, a controversial tech company known for its extensive biometric database, and another newer program called Mobile Fortify. Beyond facial recognition, ICE agents are leveraging cellphone and social media monitoring tools to keep tabs on individuals’ online activities. There is also indication that the agency possesses capabilities to potentially hack into smartphones to extract information.
Additionally, ICE agents are tapping into a comprehensive database created by Palantir, a data analytics firm. This database amalgamates both government and commercial data sources and is utilized to identify the real-time locations of persons of interest, aiding agents in their pursuit efforts.
The intensification of ICE’s technological surveillance methods has sparked significant debate. Activists and privacy advocates raise serious concerns regarding the balance between law enforcement and civil liberties, especially given that American citizens engaged in lawful protest activity are reportedly subject to such tracking.
ICE’s broad deployment of facial recognition and data analytics technologies in Minneapolis reveals the agency’s evolving approach to immigration enforcement and public order management. However, the lack of transparency regarding these practices and the implications for individual rights continue to prompt demands for accountability and clearer regulatory frameworks.
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