ICE to spend $25M on iris recognition technology

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has awarded a $25 million contract to Massachusetts-based BI2 Technologies for 1,570 handheld iris-scanning devices, marking a fivefold increase from its previous contract with the vendor. The new agreement, set to run from June 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027, will provide ICE agents with wireless devices capable of accessing over 5 million booking records from 47 states, including arrest and incarceration data. The devices integrate iris, fingerprint, and facial recognition into a single system, ensuring functionality even if one biometric sensor fails. The technology, certified by the FBI, can also interface with driver’s license and vehicle plate databases, expanding ICE’s identity verification capabilities in the field. Despite these advancements, BI2 Technologies lacks FedRAMP authorization, a critical security standard for federal systems, though DHS has acknowledged the vendor’s draft security plan addressing data protection risks. The contract follows ICE’s rollout of Mobile Fortify, an AI-powered app for comparing biometric data with agency records, which has drawn criticism from privacy advocates and lawmakers. In January, House Democrats introduced legislation to restrict the use of such apps outside ports of entry, citing concerns over unproven and biased technology. Mississippi Representative Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, condemned the surveillance practices, emphasizing risks to Americans’ privacy. Meanwhile, DHS’s Office of the Inspector General launched an audit in February to examine ICE’s biometric data collection, storage, and sharing practices. The probe comes amid broader scrutiny of DHS’s expanding surveillance tools, including AI and mobile biometric tracking, which have faced challenges in oversight and transparency. The contract’s progression highlights ICE’s continued investment in field biometrics despite growing opposition and regulatory uncertainties.