Story perspectives

ICE Allocates $180 Million for Bounty Hunters to Target Undocumented Immigrants

11/13/2025

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Center

ICE Expands Bounty Program

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to allocate up to $180 million to hire bounty hunters and private investigators to locate undocumented individuals for detention.
Procurement records reviewed by 404 Media show ICE will involve private investigators in identifying deportation targets.
The Intercept reported in October that ICE's plan to use bounty hunters is a practice typically linked to insurance fraud or locating bail jumpers.

Left

Krishnamoorthi Critiques ICE

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) criticized Immigration and Customs Enforcement's plan to pay bonuses to private bounty hunters tracking undocumented immigrants, citing concerns about oversight.
In a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, he warned outsourcing could blur lines between federal authority and private interests.
He argued the plan could create a profit-driven, unaccountable system.
ICE stated the Request for Information is for planning purposes and does not commit to contracts.

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ICE Expands Bounty Program

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to allocate up to $180 million to hire bounty hunters and private investigators to locate undocumented individuals for detention.
Procurement records reviewed by 404 Media show ICE will involve private investigators in identifying deportation targets.
The Intercept reported in October that ICE's plan to use bounty hunters is a practice typically linked to insurance fraud or locating bail jumpers.

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