Unprecedented Deportation Plan: Trump's Government Constructs Migrant Software and Gargantuan Database
Trump's government constructs immigrant data system and mammoth database
In the shadows, tech wizards are weaving a massive tapestry. Millions could fall under the government's scrutiny as IT warriors of Elon Musk's "Department of Government Efficiency," alias Doge, craft a colossal database. This digital behemoth is said to collate information from various departments, potentially impacting anyone without U.S. citizenship, including family members bearing U.S. passports.
The Race to Track MigrantsApproximately thirteen million individuals make their homes in the U.S. without a valid residency permit. President Trump's orders aim to locate and monitor these individuals. With technology evolving rapidly, the government's capabilities to surveil migrants are more advanced than ever before.
The new database rose to prominence when it was selected by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the immigration agency, ICE, to facilitate deportations according to U.S. media reports. The project combines biometric data, information from the Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and Department of Health with that of ICE. Additionally, integration of labor and housing department data is a possibility.
Remarkably, data processing company Palantir created the software, dubbed "ImmigrationOS," to support this database, as commissioned by ICE earlier last month. Originally intending to provide real-time tracking of migrant movements, the software has sparked polarizing opinions among civil liberties advocates.
An American Civil Liberties Union representative explained to Wired magazine, "It's a massive dragnet that will have all sorts of consequences not only for people without papers but also for US citizens and those who are here legally."
Seven Million on the Grid
Historically, the IRS refused to share data with other agencies. However, with recent changes, the DHS now has access to this valuable trove of information. Critics argue that up to seven million non-citizens could be located using tax data.
Internally, Washington projects that at least one million deportations will be achieved within the first year of Trump's presidency. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is working to reach this goal through a less confrontational approach: encouraging 'self-deportation.' This initiative rewards voluntary departures with a $1,000 stipend plus flight expenses.
Noem -- The Face of Controversy
Over the past few months, confrontational warning videos have circulated on various platforms, featuring Noem menacing, "We will find you and we will deport you." Noem even went as far as visiting El Salvador, where she posed with a $50,000 gold Rolex in front of prisoners at the notoriously harsh CECOT prison. Conditions within the prison have been deemed inhumane by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. Commenting on her visit, Noem asserted, "This is one of the consequences if you illegally enter the country. You will be removed and you will be prosecuted."
Tech Billionaires' Bold Venture: "Free Cities" Devoid of Rules
Palantir's ImmigrationOS software has drawn interest from influential figures in the tech industry, including Peter Thiel and Alex Karp. While the system promises to expedite the execution of Trump's ambitious deportation policy, it has divided opinion internally within Palantir. Leaked communications suggest that Palantir is attempting to justify its involvement by assuring employees that migrants will be treated fairly. However, this sentiment appears to be out of line with the Trump administration's approach, which has been characterized by its hardline stance on immigration.
ImmigrationOS: A Comprehensive Management System
The ImmigrationOS software, slated for completion in September under a two-year, $88 million contract with ICE, offers three primary functions:
- Prioritizing deportations, with a focus on criminal networks, violent criminals, and foreigners with expired visas
- Tracking the movements of migrants opting for self-deportation
- Compiling immigration details, called an "immigration lifecycle," chronicling a person's journey through the system from identification to removal.
ICE employees maintain jurisdiction over detaining specific migrants. Historically, a judge has had the final say over their fate. However, the government is actively questioning this process.
- Donald Trump
- Deportation
- Software
Enrichment Data:
The Risk of Data MisuseThe consolidation of sensitive data from numerous agencies increases the risk that this information will fall into the wrong hands or be misused for unintended purposes, such as targeting political opponents or undesirable groups. The abolishment of complaint and ombudsman offices within the Department of Homeland Security, whose role was to prevent data misuse, raises further concerns.
- The Department of Homeland Security and ICE have selected a new database, collaboration between multiple departments' data, including biometric data, Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Department of Health, labor, and housing departments, which could potentially impact millions of non-citizens, raised concerns about misuse of sensitive data.
- Under the Trump administration's immigration policy, the implementation of 'ImmigrationOS' software, developed by Palantir, is expected to enhance deportation efforts by prioritizing criminal networks, violent criminals, and foreigners with expired visas, while also tracking the movements of migrants opting for self-deportation, and compiling immigration details, but concerns persist regarding data misuse and politically motivated targeting.
