Washington, D.C. – United We Dream and immigrant and civil rights movement partners, submitted a public comment to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice (DOJ). They urged the Biden Administration to hold law enforcement agencies such as ICE and CBP accountable for their discriminatory practices and mass surveillance of immigrant communities. These actions contribute to the systemic violation of privacy, surveillance, and civil and human rights of immigrant communities by tech companies and their collaboration with enforcement agencies like ICE and CBP. The comment comes at a time when the Biden Administration requested comments on the use of facial recognition technology, biometric information, predictive algorithms, and data practices to safeguard privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties.
Karen Fierro Ruiz, Federal Advocacy & Policy Manager, said:
“Our communities are all too familiar with the pain and fear caused by ICE and CBP. Whether it’s the collection of personal data or the use of facial recognition technology, we cannot allow these agencies to continue terrorizing our communities. Such methods not only undermine the privacy and dignity of our loved ones but also pose a significant threat to their civil rights and freedoms. Our public comment urges the DOJ and DHS to compile a report for the Biden Administration to hold law enforcement agencies accountable. We cannot trust ICE and CBP with these unregulated technologies that allow inhumane surveillance, discriminatory practices, and the violation of the privacy and basic human rights of Black, Brown, and immigrant communities. These practices result in detentions, harassment, family separation, and the deportation of our loved ones, tearing our communities apart. We will not be silent until our human and civil rights are prioritized over the unchecked power of ICE and CBP and the profits of greedy tech companies.”
