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ICE Seeks $180 Million for Private ‘Skip Tracers’ to Verify 1.5 Million Addresses

The newly disclosed solicitation would outsource large-scale address verification to private investigators for mass interior enforcement, drawing legal and privacy scrutiny.

Overview

  • Procurement documents describe “enhanced location research” that includes time-stamped photos, utility bills or similar records, and possible in-person checks at homes or workplaces.
  • ICE lists a docket of 1.5 million addresses, with vendors receiving batches of 50,000 to locate according to The Independent’s review of the documents.
  • Vendors must attest to compliance with applicable data and privacy laws and detail the tools and methods they will use for skip tracing.
  • MSNBC cites prior reporting that ICE explored incentive-based payments and 10,000-person bundles to reward contractors for faster results.
  • Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi sent a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem seeking answers on oversight, as critics point to complaint histories for bounty hunters and risks of impersonation or misuse.