Leveraging Technology to Strengthen Immigration Enforcement

House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation

2025-03-04

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Summary

The Subcommittee on Cybersecurity Information Technology and Government Innovation convened to discuss leveraging technology to strengthen immigration enforcement. [ 00:36:02 ]

The meeting featured testimonies from former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials and policy experts, who shared their insights on existing challenges and proposed technological solutions.

Themes

Challenges in Immigration Enforcement and Technology Gaps

Immigration enforcement faces significant hurdles due to sanctuary jurisdictions that restrict ICE's access to crucial data, such as DMV records. This lack of cooperation, combined with outdated data infrastructure and fragmented information sharing across agencies, leaves the nation vulnerable. Witnesses highlighted government inefficiencies in integrating new technologies, which leads to outdated solutions and missed opportunities. [ 00:42:32 ]

The effectiveness of existing enforcement tools is also hampered by the poor quality and integration of data within current systems. It was also claimed that the Biden administration reduced detention rates and redirected ICE resources, contributing to a substantial backlog of unremoved individuals.

Role of Technology in Enhancing Enforcement

Advanced technologies, including facial recognition software, AI-powered data analytics, and GPS monitoring, are crucial for strengthening immigration enforcement. [ 00:38:47 ]

These innovations can significantly improve ICE's ability to track, apprehend, and deport illegal aliens, leading to greater efficiency, accuracy, and coordination. [ 00:39:33 ] Tools like the Eagle Direct Identification Environment (EDI), which uses mobile fingerprint readers linked to ICE databases, have proven effective in rapidly identifying and removing dangerous individuals. Speakers suggested that modern data platforms with machine learning capabilities could uncover hidden patterns and offer actionable intelligence for agents. Technology also has the potential to streamline administrative tasks like check-ins for non-detained populations, thereby allowing officers to focus on more critical enforcement duties.

Critique of Biden Administration's Immigration Policies

The Biden administration faced strong criticism for allegedly facilitating an "invasion" of millions of illegal aliens into the U.S., notably through the use of the CBP One app. [ 00:38:16 ]

Critics argued that the administration dismantled former President Trump's immigration policies, leading to a surge in illegal entries, including individuals on terrorist watch lists and those with criminal backgrounds. [ 00:39:36 ] Examples of mismanagement in the Alternatives to Detention (ATD) programs were cited, including cases where released individuals committed serious crimes, such as the murder of Jocelyn Nungere. These policies were also linked to a rise in fentanyl overdose deaths, increased profits for drug cartels, and a surge in human trafficking. Former ICE agents asserted that the Biden administration created the worst working environment for enforcing immigration law.

Defense/Critique of Trump Administration and Alternative Perspectives

Former President Trump's administration was praised for significantly reducing illegal border crossings and demonstrating strong immigration enforcement. [ 00:37:43 ]

Although the CBP One app originated under Trump, it was criticized for its alleged misuse under Biden, with suggestions that it could be improved for "self-deportation" or more effective legal pathways. Some participants advocated for bipartisan and comprehensive immigration reform, emphasizing the need to modernize border infrastructure and streamline the asylum process. Concerns were raised about the rapid expansion of detention facilities, the potential for human rights abuses, and over-reliance on private contractors, stressing the necessity of strong oversight. [ 01:16:14 ] The removal of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel, particularly those in science and technology, was seen as detrimental to agency morale and effectiveness.

Tone of the Meeting

The meeting was characterized by a highly partisan and often accusatory tone, particularly from Republican members and some witnesses targeting the Biden administration's immigration policies. [ 00:38:16 ]

There was a strong emphasis on national security threats, public safety, and the severe consequences of illegal immigration, including emotional appeals regarding victims of crimes committed by illegal aliens. [ 00:37:36 ] While witnesses generally aligned with the views of the party that invited them, Ms. Fleischaker provided a more nuanced, operational perspective. [ 00:57:01 ] The discussion conveyed a palpable sense of urgency and seriousness concerning perceived failures and the need for significant technological and policy changes.

Participants

Transcript

Shontel M. Brown

Good morning. The Subcommittee on Cybersecurity Information Technology and Government Innovation will now come to order and welcome everyone who is here today. Without objection, the chair may declare a recess at any time. I will now recognize myself for the purpose of making an opening statement. Good morning to everyone who is here today, to our witnesses, to our guests who are here as well. Important conversation about leveraging technology to strengthen immigration enforcement. It was last year when I was in the oversight committee And I exposed a sanctuary sheriff in the state of South Carolina, Charleston County, South Carolina. Her name was Kristen Graziano. And I learned that she was not working with ICE at the time. And she was letting illegal immigrants who were here in our country illegally, criminals, because they break the law when they come into our country as soon as they cross that border illegally. It's a crime. But she was allowing rapists, pedophiles, molesters, murderers out onto the streets of South Carolina, in my district, in my state, doing harm to women and girls. And so having this conversation today is more important than ever, because we have to stop this. And I will say this, that illegal border crossings are down significantly Now that Donald Trump is president, I believe the last stat I read was that they were down 90%. But anyway, when I was exposing what my sanctuary sheriff was doing last year, my lieutenant governor, Pam Yvette, stood silent. My attorney general, Alan Wilson, stood silent i was literally one of the only people in south carolina willing to stick my neck out put my career on the line my reputation on the line to make sure this kind of thing stopped and so today we're going to have this hearing about using technology to minimize illegal immigration to strengthen immigration enforcement first of all it's well documented the biden administration used technology to facilitate the invasion of our nation

Shontel M. Brown

by millions of illegal aliens, the CBP One app being just one example of this. Today's hearing will explore how technology can help strengthen the enforcement of our nation's immigration laws. Cutting-edge technology enhances immigration enforcement and reduces risks for immigration enforcement officials. From facial recognition software to data analytics, powered by artificial intelligence to GPS monitoring, advanced technologies empower U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, to track, apprehend, and deport illegal aliens in our country. And we know right now under the leadership of Donald Trump, under the leadership of Tom Holman, that we're trying to deport those who are here illegally as fast as we can. And I believe we don't have enough ICE agents right now to do that. We've got to make sure that ICE and Homeland Security have all the resources they need to do it as quickly as possible. Tracking illegal aliens and identifying threats to the homeland allows ICE to more effectively enforce our nation's immigration laws and remove those who are unlawfully present in the United States. Former President Biden and his Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas willfully and intentionally unleashed an invasion, an invasion, of illegal aliens into the US from around the world. We had more people crossing illegally into our country that were on the terrorist watch list than ever in the history of the United States over the last four years. Illegal aliens shepherded into the country by the Biden administration include terrorists, murderers, rapists, pedophiles, cartel members, drug traffickers, sex traffickers, child traffickers, human traffickers, not exactly the kind of people you want roaming the streets of our communities. By systematically dismantling President Trump's policies from his first administration, the Biden administration flung the border wide open for any and all who wish to enter here the U.S. illegally. This has led to the unlawful entry of over 10 million illegal aliens into the U.S. and the other 2 million, quote, known gotaways, end quote, who entered the country without

Shontel M. Brown

once being apprehended. As of last July, there were over 646,000 illegal aliens with additional criminal histories running around free right here in the United States. And those are only criminal aliens that are known to ICE officials. So the actual number is actually statistically probably significantly much, much higher. Why is this issue important? Why must we use all means at our disposal to identify, locate, and deport all illegal aliens in the U.S.? It's because the heinous nature of the crimes committed by those who enter the U.S. illegally and treat this nation as their own playground to get rich by selling human beings and illegal drugs while victimizing women and children. The most dangerous criminals include cartel organizations that control the border, who force women into indentured servitude or sex slavery to pay for their entry into the US. They subject children to child pornography. If you speak to law enforcement at the border, you'll hear about rape trees, where the underwear of women and girls brutally raped on their journey to America are hung like trophies.

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