ICE Tracks Social Media to Detain Migrants — Discover Its New Strategy

ICE Expands Digital Surveillance

Migrants Under Federal Monitoring

Social Media in the Crosshairs

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has expanded its presence on social media as part of a new strategy designed to identify, locate, and detain migrants considered threats to public or national security.

The agency announced the hiring of cybersecurity experts and the creation of a 24-hour operational team dedicated to monitoring digital platforms.

According to documents obtained by Telemundo, this unit belongs to the Targeting Operations Division (TOD), which is responsible for issuing constant reports on monitored users.

ICE Increases Its Digital Surveillance on Migrants

ICE PLANS 24/7 SOCIAL MEDIA SURVEILLANCE TEAM

ICE plans to hire nearly 30 private contractors to scroll through X, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram all day, looking for “intel” that could lead to deportation raids.

The agency wants two watch centers in Vermont and… https://t.co/3fImuz2jbI pic.twitter.com/o7eZRjXxIP

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 4, 2025

The ICE digital surveillance strategy involves advanced link analysis tools, geolocation tracking, and automated data collection.

ICE will examine information shared on platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Reddit.

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Public posts, photos, and documents can be used as input for investigations and arrests.

An ICE spokesperson stated that “the agency uses various forms of technology to investigate alleged criminal activities while respecting civil liberties and privacy interests.”

Reports indicate that the surveillance does not only target suspected individuals but also those using technological countermeasures to hide their identity or location.

The main goal, according to the documents, is “to arrest and support the prosecution of suspects violating immigration or federal laws.”

Cooperation with Other Agencies

ICE plans to significantly expand its digital surveillance efforts with a dedicated monitoring team.
https://t.co/jlbjgui0DQ pic.twitter.com/kEoqWK3MoU

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The expansion of the digital monitoring program does not operate in isolation.

ICE confirmed that it works in coordination with other federal law enforcement agencies to track migrants considered an “operational risk” or who hinder deportation processes.

This cooperation includes real-time data sharing on movement patterns and social contacts.

In parallel, the agency maintains partnerships with private data analytics firms that provide automated tracking software and artificial intelligence systems aimed at detecting suspicious behaviors.

Political Context and New Measures

The initiative falls within the Trump administration’s broader efforts to intensify arrests and deportations across the United States.

The federal government recently asked Apple to remove the ICEBlock app from its store — an application that allowed users to alert others about the presence of agents in their communities.

Additionally, the agency allocated millions of dollars to television campaigns in cities like Chicago and Atlanta, aimed at recruiting local police to help enforce immigration laws.

According to an Associated Press report, ICE also plans to hire around 10,000 additional deportation officers by the end of 2025.

Funds will come from the budget increase outlined in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” signed by Trump on July 4.

With this expansion, ICE not only strengthens its operational capacity on the ground but also broadens its digital surveillance reach, turning social media into a new domain of immigration control and enforcement within the United States.