LOS ANGELES

Trump leveraging technology could dramatically escalate deportations. Maru Mora-Villalpando, a longtime U.S. resident, was startled when a deportation notice arrived at her door. Despite her efforts to keep her address private, she discovered that immigration. Officials could track her through seemingly innocuous data like car registrations and utility bills. “I didn’t know all this data was being packaged up and given to authorities. Aaid Mora-Villalpando, who advocates for immigrant and undocumented communities in Seattle. Trump leveraging technology could dramatically escalate deportations “We used to wonder how ICE agents found us; now we know.”

The Trump campaign and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have not commented on these developments.

High-Tech Enforcement

Immigration enforcement is increasingly reliant on advanced technology. Authorities now use data brokers to compile detailed profiles of immigrants from numerous data points and employ high-tech surveillance tools, including facial recognition and license plate readers. AI is also playing a growing role, potentially generating deportation target lists and flagging asylum cases automatically.

As Trump leads in the polls, there is growing concern that these technologs could be usd to expedite the deportaton of over 11 million undocumentd individuals in the U.S. “There’s a huge tech infrastructure ready to do just that,” said Jacinta Gonzalez, field director of Mijente, an organization focusing on immigration issues.

In a memo from 2023, the DHS stated it would avoid using AI for indiscriminate monitoring or surveillance. However, undocumented immigrants have always faced deportation risks, particularly those who came as children or have lived in the U.S. for decades. Despite numerous attempts, Congress has failed to pass legislation to normalize their status, leading authorities to exercise discretion and avoid deporting certain groups, such as “Dreamers.”

Challenges of Mass Deportation

Deporting millions is complex, according to Muzaffar Chisti of the Migration Policy Institute. He questions whether Trump could mobilize the necessary resources for such an undertaking, though he acknowledges that creating an atmosphere of fear is possible. “Everyone may be under surveillance, but turning that into removal is not easy,” he said.

Tech and ICE

During Trump’s previous term, from 2017 to 2021, his administration adopted a tough stance on immigration. Implementing strict measures including travel bans and family separations. Pro-immigration groups responded by forming the “No Tech for ICE” coalition in 2018 to urge tech companies to sever ties with immigration enforcement agencies.

Surveillance and data collection by ICE have become extensive. A 2022 Georgetown University report revealed that ICE had access to three-quarters. Nnation’s driver’s license data and used facial recognition to search through a significant portion of it. ICE spent an estimated $2.8 billion on data collection and sharing between 2008 and 2021. Reflecting its heavy investment in surveillance technologies.

Legislative attempts, such as the “4th Amendment is Not for Sale Act,” aimed to restrict data purchases by immigration authorities but have stalled in Congress. The current administration has continued deportations while providing some relief to specific undocumented groups, like those married to U.S. citizens.

Concerns About Future Policies

Julie Mao of Just Futures Law fears that a second Trump term could see a dramatic increase in deportations due to the misuse of data brokers, surveillance tools, and AI. She highlights the potential for these technologies to generate extensive lists of deportation targets and streamline enforcement efforts.

Antonio Gutierrez of Organized Communities Against Deportations (OCAD) shares these concerns. The group is preparing for a possible escalation in deportations, especially with advanced technology at play. Gutierrez notes that undocumented parents are preparing contingency plans for their children in case of sudden detention. Reflecting the heightened anxiety similar to that before the 2016 election.

A recent lawsuit fild by OCAD and Just Futurs Law against LexisNexis, for allegedly mishandlng immigrants’ data, was dismissed. LexisNexis maintains that it supports responsible data use in line with regulations. Immigration authorities han found to search such databases extensively, raisng further concerns about privacy and abuse.

As the election approaches, the immigrant community faces growing uncertainty.  And fear about the potential for increased deportation efforts bolstered by technology.