ICE agents disclose daily arrest quotas and monitoring app in unusual court testimony.

ICE agents in Oregon revealed under oath that they followed daily arrest quotas and used a specialized app to identify neighborhoods and individuals for enforcement, exposing unusual internal practices that raise concerns about racial profiling and warrantless arrests.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Oregon disclosed in federal court that they operated under specific daily arrest quotas and employed a specialized application to identify neighborhoods and individuals for enforcement actions. This testimony, given under oath, provided an unusual look into ICE’s internal procedures, which are typically confidential and have previously contributed to large-scale detentions and disruptive enforcement operations.

Context of the Legal Case

The revelations occurred as part of a class-action lawsuit initiated by the non-profit organization Innovation Law Lab, which focuses on defending immigrant rights. The lawsuit contested ICE’s practice of detaining individuals without warrants or probable cause, arguing that such operations resulted in racial profiling and unconstitutional arrests. A federal judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, issuing a broad injunction against warrantless arrests in Oregon.

Daily Arrest Quotas

During a December court hearing, an ICE officer identified only as JB testified that his team was required to achieve eight arrests per day. JB’s unit, consisting of nine to twelve officers, participated in the Department of Homeland Security’s Operation Black Rose in Portland, which had recorded over 1,200 arrests by mid-December. Based on this testimony, Innovation Law Lab estimated a potential statewide daily quota of approximately 50 arrests. When questioned about his compliance with the quota, JB stated he made as many arrests as he could while remaining within the law. The court overruled objections to the use of the term “quota.”

The Woodburn Operation

JB provided details of an operation conducted on October 30 in Woodburn, Oregon, a city with a significant agricultural worker population. Officers initially focused on an apartment complex identified through a custom application called Elite. JB explained that Elite functions similarly to mapping software but highlights areas with higher concentrations of individuals linked to immigration enforcement. “Nexus” could include prior contact with immigration authorities, including naturalized citizens.

Using Elite, officers identified target-rich locations, conducted license plate checks, and tracked a van transporting farm workers. Although vehicle ownership was unconfirmed, the team cited suspicions of trafficking or smuggling based on occupants speaking Spanish. ICE’s official report, however, did not mention trafficking and noted that the individuals were traveling to work and were from Mexico.

Additional Surveillance Tools

In addition to Elite, ICE officers used Mobile Fortify for facial recognition. During the Woodburn operation, a farm worker identified as MJMA was run through the app. Despite holding a valid temporary visa, her record was incorrectly flagged as unlawfully present. She was detained in Washington state and later released without explanation, requiring her to return to Oregon independently.

Judicial Critique

US District Judge Mustafa Kasubhai criticized the operation, noting that Elite’s inaccuracies could result in targeting lawfully present individuals. He dismissed JB’s human smuggling claims as unsubstantiated and emphasized that the arrests appeared motivated by a federal target of 3,000 national arrests per day rather than lawful enforcement requirements.

Elite App Functionality and Controversy

According to reports, Elite was developed by Palantir, a data analytics company with contracts with the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense. The app creates maps of potential deportation targets, generates individual dossiers, and assigns confidence scores to addresses. A user guide indicated that Elite, which stands for Enhanced Leads Identification & Targeting for Enforcement, is designed to locate high-value targets using geospatial mapping. Palantir described itself as a data processor but did not provide specifics about its role in Oregon operations. DHS and the Department of Justice declined to comment on the app, arrest quotas, or the lawsuit.

Advocate Concerns

Stephen Manning, executive director of Innovation Law Lab, stated that the evidence indicated ICE officers faced pressure to meet quotas, potentially resulting in rights violations. Manning highlighted the arrest of Juanita Avila, a legal permanent resident, as an example of racial profiling influenced by quota requirements. Nelly Garcia Orjuela, a staff attorney with Innovation Law Lab, noted that Elite demonstrated extensive surveillance of vulnerable communities rather than focusing only on individuals with serious criminal records.

Conclusion

The court testimony has revealed both the use of advanced surveillance technology and internal operational pressures on ICE to meet arrest targets. These disclosures raise ongoing legal and ethical questions regarding ICE practices in Oregon, particularly concerning racial profiling, warrantless arrests, and reliance on predictive applications such as Elite.

Sources:

• ICE agents reveal daily arrest quotas and surveillance app in rare court testimony – The Guardian
• ICE used arrest quotas and surveillance technology in Oregon immigration raids, rare court testimony shows – El Pais (English)
• ICE Agents Admit Using Creepy Spy Tech in Deportation Frenzy – The Daily Beast
• ICE agents reveal daily arrest quotas and surveillance app in rare court testimony

Author: Ava Mitchell
Ava Mitchell is a journalist covering culture, art, and literature. She is known for her creative approach and ability to produce in-depth features and interviews.