Trump Eyes AI Tools for Immigration Crackdown Plans

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Trump Eyes AI Tools for Immigration Crackdown Plans \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ As Donald Trump prepares for his return to the presidency, his administration is expected to leverage advanced surveillance and AI-powered tools to enforce immigration policies. Technologies like the “Hurricane Score” algorithm and SmartLINK tracking app, already in use under Biden, could play a significant role in Trump’s proposed mass deportation plans. Critics argue these tools pose risks of privacy violations, systemic bias, and potential misuse, while private prison companies anticipate program expansions.

Trump’s AI-Powered Immigration Crackdown Quick Looks

Tech at the Forefront: AI algorithms and surveillance apps could become central to Trump’s enforcement efforts.
Hurricane Score: A risk-assessment algorithm to guide detention and surveillance decisions.
SmartLINK App: Tracks immigrants’ movements with facial recognition and geolocation.
Private Prisons Involved: Companies like GEO Group foresee scaling up immigration programs.
Advocacy Concerns: Privacy violations, data misuse, and bias are central issues raised by critics.
Future Challenges: Trump’s deportation goals face logistical hurdles and questions of fairness.

Deep Look

As Donald Trump readies himself for a return to the presidency in 2025, his administration is poised to adopt advanced surveillance and artificial intelligence (AI) tools to intensify immigration enforcement. These technologies, already implemented under the Biden administration, are expected to play a pivotal role in Trump’s ambitious deportation plans, targeting millions of undocumented immigrants. However, critics warn of significant privacy risks, ethical concerns, and logistical challenges tied to these systems.

AI in Immigration Enforcement: Tools and Capabilities

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been deploying AI tools to assist in decisions around surveillance, detention, and deportation. Among the most notable is the “Hurricane Score,” an algorithm designed to assess whether an immigrant is likely to abscond from supervision. It assigns a score from 1 to 5 based on several factors, including prior violations, the length of time in the monitoring program, and whether the individual possesses travel documents.

In an October letter obtained by The Associated Press, Eric Hysen, DHS’s Chief AI Officer, outlined the Hurricane Score’s use. He emphasized that the algorithm does not make decisions directly but instead informs ICE officers during case evaluations. “The Hurricane Score does not make decisions on detention, deportation, or surveillance; instead, it is used to inform human decision-making,” Hysen wrote.

In addition to algorithms, DHS employs the SmartLINK app as part of its Alternatives to Detention program. The app uses facial recognition and geolocation to monitor immigrants awaiting court decisions. Nearly 200,000 immigrants are currently enrolled in the program, which allows them to remain in the U.S. while their cases proceed, provided they comply with tracking requirements. However, SmartLINK’s location data has been used in the past to locate and arrest individuals, raising privacy concerns.

Privacy and Bias Concerns with AI Tools

Critics argue that AI-based tools, like the Hurricane Score, may inadvertently reinforce biases and disproportionately affect certain groups. Advocacy organizations, including Just Futures Law, have questioned the fairness of algorithms determining flight risk and the extent of data collection by tools like SmartLINK.

Paromita Shah, executive director of Just Futures Law, noted that immigrants labeled as flight risks face increased detention, which hampers their ability to build a legal defense. “It’s already difficult enough for immigrants to navigate the court system,” she said.

DHS has attempted to address these concerns, stating its commitment to transparency and civil rights protections. In a report last year, the agency acknowledged risks related to persistent monitoring and data misuse, highlighting that information collected by tools like SmartLINK could be stored in broader DHS databases and potentially repurposed.

Private Prisons See Opportunities for Growth

The private sector, particularly companies involved in detention and monitoring, is anticipating significant expansion under Trump’s immigration agenda. The GEO Group, which operates detention centers and oversees the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP), expressed optimism about scaling its operations.

“We can scale up from the present 182,500 participants to several hundreds of thousands, or even millions of participants,” said George Christopher Zoley, GEO’s executive chairman, during an investor call.

Similarly, Damon Hininger, CEO of CoreCivic, indicated that his company is preparing for potential changes in immigrant monitoring programs. Hininger described it as an opportunity for vendors to propose “creative and innovative solutions” that align with the Trump administration’s enforcement priorities.

Public records reveal the extent of private sector involvement during Trump’s first term. In 2018, employees of BI Inc., a GEO subsidiary, shared GPS location data from SmartLINK users with ICE, leading to over 40 arrests. Such actions underscore concerns over how monitoring technologies may be utilized under stricter enforcement policies.

Trump’s Ambitious Deportation Plans

Trump has pledged the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, targeting an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants. His proposals include invoking wartime powers and deploying military resources, but these plans face substantial logistical challenges. Questions remain about how authorities would locate individuals nationwide, where detainees would be housed, and how enforcement would be scaled effectively.

AI-powered tools like the Hurricane Score and SmartLINK could help address some of these challenges, providing the government with data-driven insights and monitoring capabilities. However, critics fear these tools could lead to overreach, particularly given Trump’s history of aggressive immigration policies.

Karoline Leavitt, a Trump spokesperson, declined to elaborate on how the administration plans to utilize DHS technologies but affirmed that Trump would “marshal every federal and state power necessary” to achieve his goals.

Calls for Oversight and Ethical Standards

Advocacy groups have called for stricter oversight of DHS’s use of AI. More than 100 organizations recently urged the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to enforce Biden-era guidelines on AI deployment. However, DHS officials noted that national security considerations could override some requirements.

Shah emphasized the need for safeguards, warning that tools like the Hurricane Score exacerbate inequities and undermine trust in the immigration system. “These technologies are being used in ways that prioritize control over fairness,” she said.