Tracking Migrants: Inside Trump's ImmigrationOS and Aggressive Database Project
Administration of Trump constructs immigrant data management system and a massive database
In a dystopian twist, the US government is taking a hard stance on immigration, and tech experts are spearheading the charge. The Department of Government Efficiency (aliased as Doge), led by the king of tech, Elon Musk, is currently building a mega-database to consolidate information from various agencies.
Immigration Update: Approximately 14 million people reside in the US without valid residence permits, with President Trump targeting them via wide-ranging decrees to facilitate mass deportations. With fear of poor treatment, border agents are reportedly apprehending historically low numbers of migrants crossing from Mexico.
The mega-database, once complete, would be accessible to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), aiding deportation efforts. Data collected would include biometric, financial, and housing information, all under the name of ImmigrationOS.
Last month, data company Palantir was commissioned to program the software for real-time tracking of migrant movements. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the system resembles a "massive dragnet," impacting not only undocumented immigrants but also US citizens and law-abiding residents.
The Quest for Seven Million: Unmasking Tax Cheats
Tax information can offer a glimpse into half a life. US residents without permits earn identification numbers from the IRS and pay taxes using it. Leveraging this information, DHS is gaining access to tax data, thanks to a court ruling that dismissed an appeal from NGOs. Some high-ranking IRS officials resigned in protest over the cooperation, with as many as seven million non-US citizens set to be traced.
Washington recently announced a goal of one million deportations in Trump's first year. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem aims to achieve this goal through "self-deportation." An app allows migrants to indicate they are leaving the country, for which the government offers a $1000 bonus and flight ticket costs.
Threats and Enticements: A Divisive Tactic
For months, warning videos have circulated online and TV,with Noem threatened deportations to those who enter illegally. Noem even traveled to El Salvador, showing off a luxurious Rolex in front of CECOT prison inmates. Conditions in the prison are reportedly inhumane by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International standards.
The Role of Palantir: An Immigration OS Prototype
Palantir's software, already in use by ICE, is set to expand its capabilities, potentially assisting Trump's administration in swiftly adhering to immigration orders. The system aims to prioritize deportations based on criminal affiliations, foreigners with expired visas, and violent criminals. Additionally, it will help track self-deportations and compile data on the immigration lifecycle of non-US citizens.
ICE agents have the authority to decide which migrants are apprehended, detained, and potentially deported. The US government is currently considering suspending the habeas corpus rights, the right to judicial review of an arrest, for migrants. This could shift power dynamics further in favor of ICE agents.
Stay tuned as the US immigration landscape continues to evolve, with widespread deployment of the ImmigrationOS system.
- The deployment of the ImmigrationOS system, aided by technology companies like Palantir, is set to expand the government's employment policy in the realm of immigration, potentially impacting not only undocumented immigrants but also US citizens and law-abiding residents.
- The general-news domain has been abuzz with discussions about the US immigration policy, including the implementation of technology in the form of ImmigrationOS, and the associated politics, such as the potential suspension of habeas corpus rights for migrants.
