ICE Expands Iris-Scanning in Immigration Enforcement

ICE announced a procurement to add iris-recognition to removal operations, awarding a $25 million no-bid contract to BI2 Technologies, which supplies iris scanners and a mobile app for scan data. The contract calls for over 1,500 scanners for field deployment.

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The $25 million award is five times larger than BI2’s prior DHS contract from fall 2025. ICE will also receive access to BI2’s database, allowing integration of iris images with existing biometric records. The agency declined a detailed interview, offering only a brief statement.

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Iris scanners have been used by U.S. sheriffs for two decades. BI2’s YouTube channel cites a 20-year history, and the company donated devices to the Southwestern Border Sheriffs’ Coalition during the first Trump administration. Former Larimer County sheriff Justin Smith described using the scanners for jail booking and field identification, noting they can locate individuals when other ID is unavailable.

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ICE said the scanners are used “to assist in accurately identifying individuals encountered during immigration enforcement and removal operations, including confirming identities and backgrounds of individuals who may be subject to enforcement actions.” The agency framed the technology as a tool for confirming identity rather than as a primary investigative method.

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Legal scholars and privacy advocates argue the scanners enable identification without prior investigative justification. Critics note that the technology could be used to create comprehensive biometric databases without clear oversight, raising questions about data aggregation, retention, and the scope of biometric collection.

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• “We were in our room. We were sleeping. When they knocked on the door, they were pointing guns at us and they ordered us to leave,” — Norelly Mejías Cáceres, asylum seeker

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• “Could ICE start doing iris scannings of everybody they detain and then add that to their database and use that for further surveillance?” — Cooper Quintin, senior staff technologist, Electronic Frontier Foundation

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• “They're trying to quickly identify within a large group, 'who do we have here?'” — Justin Smith, executive director, National Sheriffs Association

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ICE’s public statement provides no detail on data retention, access controls, or independent oversight. The agency declined to comment on the number of individuals already scanned or on any audit of the BI2 database, leaving a critical information gap.

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Stakeholders have called for congressional hearings and clear guidelines governing biometric collection, storage, and use in immigration contexts. Ongoing litigation by individuals such as Mejías Cáceres may prompt judicial review of ICE’s biometric practices.

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