DHS to Roll Out AI System Meant to Help Determine Who Gets Targeted for Deportation

The Department of Homeland Security will launch a new artificial intelligence–driven platform on Thursday designed to reshape how immigration enforcement decisions are made, including who may be targeted for deportation.

The system, known as ImmigrationOS, consolidates multiple enforcement tools into a single interface that allows Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to approve raids, book arrests, generate legal documents, and route individuals into detention or deportation flights. Officials say the platform is intended to accelerate processes that previously relied on slower, manual reviews.

"It doesn't just collect data — it structures what agents do with it," a senior DHS official told CNN. The platform uses algorithms to sift through large datasets, flag potential violations, and direct enforcement officers toward priority cases. It also pulls information from nontraditional sources such as Suspicious Activity Reports and financial transactions flagged under the Bank Secrecy Act, previously reserved for counterterrorism or anti-money laundering investigations.

Critics warn the growing reliance on AI in immigration enforcement raises serious concerns over transparency, accountability, and bias. Steven Hubbard, a data scientist with the American Immigration Council, said past uses of AI in immigration mostly enhanced processes, but the new system is different:

"What we're seeing in these upcoming contracts is a shift. In the past, AI tools were primarily used to support efficiency — flagging a case for review or assisting with facial recognition. But the new systems described appear to be more prescriptive, guiding agents on what actions to take rather than simply supporting their decision-making"

ICE awarded Palantir Technologies a contract of nearly $30 million earlier this year to build the platform. Palantir has said AI should "enhance human execution and decision-making rather than replacing it," while emphasizing the need to preserve privacy and civil liberties. Still, former DHS officials caution that relying heavily on a single contractor could lock the agency into one operational ecosystem.

The rollout reflects a broader shift in immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons earlier described the vision as operating with the efficiency of Amazon's delivery model: "Like Prime, but with human beings."

Former ICE acting director John Sandweg said the debate is not about whether AI has value, but how it is used. "These tools can be used for good or bad," he told CNN, noting that the administration has made clear it wants to expand arrests. Another former DHS official warned against giving software unchecked authority: "AI is good, but not as good as a human being."