"Congressman Sounds Alarm as ICE Plans to Hire Bounty Hunters"
A plan by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to hire private bounty hunters has sparked concerns among lawmakers. In a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi expressed his "grave concerns" over the proposal, which would award monetary bonuses to contractors who successfully track down and apprehend immigrants residing in the US.
The plan, dubbed "skip tracing," involves deploying private investigators to conduct surveillance on suspected undocumented immigrants and pinpoint their home addresses. Contractors could earn bonus payments based on how many immigrants they help apprehend and how quickly. However, Krishnamoorthi warned that this system would raise worrying questions about accountability, as contractors would operate with little oversight and limited public scrutiny.
"In such a system built on quotas and cash rewards with minimal oversight, mistakes are not just possible — they are certain," Krishnamoorthi wrote. "The pressure to hit numbers replaces the judgment, training, and accountability that should define real law enforcement."
Krishnamoorthi's concerns are shared by many civil liberties groups, who argue that contracting out policing power to private companies would invite abuses of power, secrecy, and corruption.
As ICE continues to explore this proposal, Krishnamoorthi is pushing for clarification on several key issues, including how contractors will be required to identify themselves as agents of the federal government. However, ICE has remained tight-lipped about the proposal, citing it as "solely for information and planning purposes" without restricting any acquisition approach.
The plan has been met with widespread criticism from lawmakers and advocacy groups, who see it as a threat to democratic values and human rights. With its emphasis on corporate profit motive and minimal oversight, this system would represent a disturbing shift in the government's role in policing power – one that could have far-reaching consequences for those living in the shadows of US immigration policy.
A plan by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to hire private bounty hunters has sparked concerns among lawmakers. In a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi expressed his "grave concerns" over the proposal, which would award monetary bonuses to contractors who successfully track down and apprehend immigrants residing in the US.
The plan, dubbed "skip tracing," involves deploying private investigators to conduct surveillance on suspected undocumented immigrants and pinpoint their home addresses. Contractors could earn bonus payments based on how many immigrants they help apprehend and how quickly. However, Krishnamoorthi warned that this system would raise worrying questions about accountability, as contractors would operate with little oversight and limited public scrutiny.
"In such a system built on quotas and cash rewards with minimal oversight, mistakes are not just possible — they are certain," Krishnamoorthi wrote. "The pressure to hit numbers replaces the judgment, training, and accountability that should define real law enforcement."
Krishnamoorthi's concerns are shared by many civil liberties groups, who argue that contracting out policing power to private companies would invite abuses of power, secrecy, and corruption.
As ICE continues to explore this proposal, Krishnamoorthi is pushing for clarification on several key issues, including how contractors will be required to identify themselves as agents of the federal government. However, ICE has remained tight-lipped about the proposal, citing it as "solely for information and planning purposes" without restricting any acquisition approach.
The plan has been met with widespread criticism from lawmakers and advocacy groups, who see it as a threat to democratic values and human rights. With its emphasis on corporate profit motive and minimal oversight, this system would represent a disturbing shift in the government's role in policing power – one that could have far-reaching consequences for those living in the shadows of US immigration policy.
. Like, what's next? Hiring private investigators to track down debtors on time payments? Or bounty hunters to catch tax evaders? I mean, come on! It's not like these are law enforcement agencies we're talking about here. We need more transparency and accountability in our government, not less 
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. This whole thing reeks of corporate greed and a lack of empathy for human rights. We need to stand up against this kind of nonsense and demand better from our government 
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This is getting outta control... they're literally hiring people to hunt down & catch immigrants 
It's like, what's next? Private detectives on the streets chasing people who can't even afford lawyers 
The whole thing reeks of corruption & abuse of power 
And don't even get me started on how they're tryin' to keep this whole thing under wraps 
Like, come on, ICE, be transparent about what you're doin' 
This is just plain wrong 
I mean, come on... Bounty hunters?! Are you kidding me? This is what we're reduced to? Contracting out our law enforcement to some private company just because it's cheaper? 
What about accountability? What about justice? It's all about quotas and cash rewards now. It's like they're treating people like cattle or something. 
And don't even get me started on the home addresses... that's just creepy. I mean, what if a contractor shows up at your doorstep and says you're an undocumented immigrant? That's not how we do things in this country. We need real law enforcement, not some private company trying to make a quick buck. 
! And now, they want to pay bounty hunters to do it? That's just crazy talk... or should I say, crazy pay 
! What's next, private investigators as superheroes, saving the day for a price 
? Seriously though, this plan is sketchy, and I'm not buying into it. Who's gonna keep those bounty hunters in check? And what if they're just trying to make some extra cash off of people who are already struggling? It's like, hello, we need to find a better way to deal with immigration issues 
. And let's not forget about accountability – like Krishnamoorthi said, with no oversight and limited public scrutiny, mistakes are basically guaranteed to happen. This whole plan is just a recipe for disaster 
also what happens when things go wrong? no accountability whatsoever 
the thought of this system is just, like, really unsettling 
! It's crazy to me how much faith we put into private companies handling law enforcement 
. The fact that contractors could be making cash based on quota says so much about the priorities of our country 
! Meanwhile, a study by the Brennan Center for Justice found that immigration detention centers are already overcrowded 
. We need to prioritize human rights over corporate interests 
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. we need to keep pushing for transparency and oversight in our government so that everyone gets treated fairly 
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they wanna pay ppl to hunt down immigrants and track them down lol its soooo invasive and creepy i mean who gets paid to be the bad guy? 
. I'm not sure about all the details of the plan, but as a country that's supposed to value fairness and equality, shouldn't we be making it easier to integrate people into society rather than treating them like fugitives? 
It's already happening in some parts of the world where 'private security' companies are running roughshod over human rights. We need real accountability and oversight, not some quid-pro-quo system that puts corporate profits above people's lives 
Meanwhile, real issues like climate change and affordable healthcare are being ignored 
. And what really scares me is that this plan could lead to all sorts of mistakes and abuses of power 
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. We need to be careful about how we're policing power in our country, and making it easier for anyone to profit from it just doesn't feel right