US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is considering a radical new approach to tracking down undocumented immigrants: hiring private bounty hunters who will be rewarded with cash bonuses for their success. The agency has put out a call for contractors to provide skip-tracing services, which involve using available information to locate people, and has promised "monetary bonuses" to those who can track down 10,000 or more immigrants.
The proposal is part of an incentive-based pricing structure designed to encourage quick results, with bonuses paid out based on performance. For example, contractors may be rewarded for identifying a person's correct address on the first try or finding 90% of its targets within a set timeframe. The idea is to use a combination of on-the-ground monitoring and digital surveillance to confirm immigrants' addresses.
The plan relies heavily on commercial data verification and physical observation services, with contractors using off-the-shelf surveillance technology to track down their targets. To verify the accuracy of an address, contractors are encouraged to take time-stamped photographs of the location.
The proposal has drawn criticism from civil liberties groups, who say it represents a threat to human rights and due process. They argue that the use of private bounty hunters and cash rewards undermines the rule of law and creates a culture of vigilantism.
The plan is reminiscent of a proposal recently floated by former Blackwater CEO Erik Prince and his allies, who suggested creating a private force to locate immigrants and offering bounties for each illegal alien held by state or local law enforcement officers. The Intercept has reported that such a program was being discussed in the Trump administration.
If implemented, the program could have far-reaching consequences for immigrants living in the US. It would create a system of rewards and penalties based on immigration status, and could lead to a culture of fear and mistrust among immigrant communities.
The proposal is part of an incentive-based pricing structure designed to encourage quick results, with bonuses paid out based on performance. For example, contractors may be rewarded for identifying a person's correct address on the first try or finding 90% of its targets within a set timeframe. The idea is to use a combination of on-the-ground monitoring and digital surveillance to confirm immigrants' addresses.
The plan relies heavily on commercial data verification and physical observation services, with contractors using off-the-shelf surveillance technology to track down their targets. To verify the accuracy of an address, contractors are encouraged to take time-stamped photographs of the location.
The proposal has drawn criticism from civil liberties groups, who say it represents a threat to human rights and due process. They argue that the use of private bounty hunters and cash rewards undermines the rule of law and creates a culture of vigilantism.
The plan is reminiscent of a proposal recently floated by former Blackwater CEO Erik Prince and his allies, who suggested creating a private force to locate immigrants and offering bounties for each illegal alien held by state or local law enforcement officers. The Intercept has reported that such a program was being discussed in the Trump administration.
If implemented, the program could have far-reaching consequences for immigrants living in the US. It would create a system of rewards and penalties based on immigration status, and could lead to a culture of fear and mistrust among immigrant communities.
. I mean, think about it, private bounty hunters getting paid to track down people based on digital surveillance? It's like something out of a bad sci-fi movie. And what's next? Companies hiring contractors to spy on each other? 
. And what about due process? Doesn't everyone deserve a fair shot at being heard before they're accused of something?
.
it's not like they're solving crimes or catching actual bad guys... just tracking down ppl without papers 
️
and what if they get wrong info or mistarget ppl? 
that would be a nightmare 
and it's just gonna make immigration super stressful for ppl already living in the US 
This plan is super sketchy, in my opinion. I mean, who wants to be tracked down by private bounty hunters just because they're undocumented? It's like something out of a movie 
. And the cash bonuses for finding these people could lead to all sorts of problems, like human trafficking or even violence 
I'm not sure this is the way to go, especially with the history of private forces being used by some governments 
This idea is super concerning. Like, think about it - we're talking about private contractors tracking people down, taking pictures of their homes, and offering cash bonuses for info that leads to someone being caught. It's like something out of a bad action movie 
. And what really gets me is that they're basically creating a system where people are rewarded for helping the government catch others. That sounds super shady.
It just doesn't seem like the right approach.
. It's like a little incentive system. And let's be real, it's not like these people are exactly running around causing chaos 
. And if it helps keep people safe and prevents any real problems from happening, then I'm all for it 
.
, this is super concerning! I mean, I get that we need to keep track of people who are here without proper documentation, but hiring private bounty hunters and offering cash bonuses is just not right 
.
. This plan could be devastating. It feels like we're creating a system where people are more afraid of being caught than actually trying to get their lives together 
. We need a more nuanced approach, not some quick-fix solution that just perpetuates inequality and fear 
. and yeah, this whole "incentive-based pricing structure" sounds like a recipe for disaster – what if the contractors are just trying to make a quick buck & don't care about verifying addresses or respecting people's privacy? 
It's like, what's next? Private bounty hunters comin' after people just 'cause they're undocumented? It sounds like a straight-up vigilante thing to me... and I don't think we need more of that in our society. And let's be real, it's just gonna create more problems for the folks already strugglin' with gettin' by here in America. Why do we gotta resort to this kind of thing? Can't we just have a nice, simple system where people can come and go without all the drama?
.