Surveillance Tech and Immigration: A New Era Under Trump?

As the 2024 presidential election draws to a close, President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to power with a suite of advanced surveillance tools at his disposal. These technologies, largely developed and deployed by the Biden administration, could potentially aid Trump's promised crackdown on immigration. But as the tools' use expands, so too do concerns about privacy, bias, and potential misuses.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has already been utilizing AI-driven algorithms and mobile tracking apps to help make crucial decisions in tracking, detaining, and deporting immigrants. One such tool, the "Hurricane Score," uses an algorithm to assess an immigrant's risk of absconding, while another, SmartLINK, employs facial matching and geolocation data to monitor immigrants' specific locations.

While these technologies have been used for years, their expanded use under the Biden administration has raised eyebrows. Just Futures Law, an immigrant rights group, has questioned the fairness of using algorithms to determine flight risk and expressed concerns about the amount of data collected by SmartLINK. DHS maintains that it is committed to ensuring transparent and unbiased use of AI, but the potential for misuse lingers.

Trump has not revealed his specific plans for using these tools, but he has vowed to marshal every federal and state power necessary to institute the largest deportation operation in American history. With an estimated 11 million people living in the country illegally, the challenge of finding and detaining them would be immense. AI-powered surveillance tools could potentially address these logistical challenges.

However, the use of these technologies raises crucial questions about privacy, civil liberties, and the potential for discrimination. As we enter a new era under Trump, it is essential to scrutinize the role of surveillance tech in immigration policy and ensure that its use is transparent, fair, and effective. The future of immigration enforcement — and the rights of those it affects — may hinge on the responsible deployment of these powerful tools.