We Sued ICE to Get Its Spyware Contract. The Agency Is Redacting Essentially Everything

Source: 404 Media

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) contracted with a spyware company that tells customers it ensures they can use the tool without the agency being caught doing so, according to documents obtained by 404 Media through our ongoing lawsuit against ICE.

In September, we sued ICE for documents related to its $2 million contract with Paragon, a company that makes powerful spyware for remotely hacking phones and accessing encrypted messaging apps. In response to the lawsuit we’ve now been given the first batch of documents by ICE, but have many more to go. The vast majority of the documents it has provided so far are heavily redacted, and it is still withholding information in the public interest that would more fully explain why the agency wanted to buy such a potent and controversial surveillance tool.

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Many of the redactions in the documents center around what ICE describes as trade secrets and records compiled for law enforcement purposes. We believe the redactions are an overreaction, withholding information in the public interest about what capabilities ICE bought and for what purpose. ICE gave Paragon the opportunity to request certain parts of the documents be redacted.

Soon after ICE contracted with Paragon in 2024, the Biden White House put a freeze on the deal as it investigated whether it violated an executive order that aimed to curb the government’s use of spyware, WIRED reported at the time. Then in August during the second Trump administration, ICE reactivated the contract, independent journalist Jack Poulson reported. In January, ICE closed out that contract, according to public procurement data 404 Media reviewed at the time. In May, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson told NPR that ICE has no current contract or relationship with Paragon or the company that later acquired it. The agency declined to clarify whether or not ICE still has access to Paragon-developed tools, NPR reported.

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Read more: https://www.404media.co/we-sued-ice-to-get-its-spyware-contract-the-agency-is-redacting-essentially-everything/