Apple News Today How Americans get caught up in ICE surveillance tools
23 snips
Feb 3, 2026 A deep look at ICE’s growing use of facial recognition, drones, trackers and phone-location data to monitor protesters and suspects. Coverage of Rafah’s limited border reopening and the logistical puzzles of moving people and aid. New Epstein file releases stir international fallout. Quick briefs on election-material lawsuits, U.S.-Iran talks, and how inflation shows up in Valentine’s candy.
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Looser Rules Expand ICE’s Reach
- ICE purchased biometric trackers, mobile phone location databases, and spyware with new funding and loosened use restrictions.
- DHS insists limits exist, but citizens report U.S. nationals have been swept up anyway.
Real-Time Biometrics In The Field
- ICE queries immigration datasets via a new app that matches faces and fingerprints from field scans against status databases.
- The scope of use is unclear, raising questions about who gets included and how long data is retained.
Phone-Location Data Workarounds
- ICE buys phone-location data through commercial brokers instead of warrants, using user-consented app data as a workaround.
- Many apps sell location info, enabling law enforcement access without court orders.