U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will expand its iris-scanning program by acquiring new biometric scanners for ports of entry and detention facilities [1, 2].
This expansion represents a significant increase in the federal government's use of biometric surveillance to track migrants. The move has sparked criticism from advocacy groups who argue that the technology compromises privacy and creates risks regarding data security [1, 2].
The Department of Homeland Security awarded the contract to a biometric-technology firm for $25 million [2]. According to contract details, the agency will purchase 1,570 devices [1]. This total exceeds the broader estimate of more than 1,000 devices cited in some reports [1].
ICE said the technology will improve the speed and accuracy of identifying individuals entering the country [1, 2]. The agency intends to deploy these scanners across the U.S. at various ICE facilities and official ports of entry [1].
Rights organizations have expressed concern over how the biometric data will be stored and who will have access to it. The use of iris scans, which are more unique than fingerprints, allows for highly precise identification but raises questions about the scale of government monitoring [2].
The contract was awarded in May 2024 [2]. The deployment of these scanners is part of a broader strategy to modernize border security and streamline the processing of individuals in federal custody [1, 2].
“ICE will expand its iris-scanning program by acquiring new biometric scanners.”
The integration of high-precision iris scanning into standard border processing signals a shift toward more invasive biometric surveillance. By investing millions into this specific technology, the U.S. government is prioritizing rapid, automated identification over traditional methods, potentially creating a permanent biometric database of non-citizens that could be used for long-term tracking beyond initial entry.
