Thirty-four members of Congress have penned a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), demanding transparency on how tools from Palantir and other surveillance companies are being used in the current immigration crackdown. The lawmakers fear that these tech tools, including facial recognition software and social media monitoring, could be misused or mishandled.
“These tools contribute to a mass surveillance ecosystem that appears to operate in conjunction with Palantir-developed platforms,” reads the letter. The concerns echo warnings from Dan Goldman, a lead author on the letter, who believes technology has been turned into an “inhumane mass deportation agenda.”
The letter also delves deeply into specific tools like ELITE, asking for detailed reports about their development and use by DHS officials. It calls for comprehensive information on legal authorities and internal policies that determine how data is used or retained.
Palantir’s involvement in ICE operations has been a contentious issue, with its revenue from government contracts soaring during the Trump administration. The lawmakers’ letter highlights growing political divides over technology’s role in immigration enforcement as well as serious concerns about civil liberties and privacy.







