DHS Allegedly Used Palantir Software to Compile Files on ICE Demonstrators

Department of Homeland Security personnel allegedly compiled detailed records on individuals who observed or protested Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, according to unsealed court documents reported by Engadget.

The disclosures originate from a partially unsealed court filing in a class-action lawsuit concerning a January ICE enforcement operation in Maine, initially reported by Wired and detailed by Engadget (https://www.engadget.com/2276609/ice-is-reportedly-using-a-palantir-database-to-compile-dossiers-on-protestors/). The redacted records were made public on Friday.

According to the lawsuit, federal agents recorded sensitive information such as photographs and vehicle license plate numbers. The files were stored inside Investigative Case Management, an enterprise database system developed for law enforcement agencies by Palantir Technologies.

The complaint claims DHS agents used the records to monitor and intimidate protestors and observers, including driving past their residences and assigning internal labels such as "Threat to Law Enforcement, Professional Protestor." In one instance cited in the filing, an agent phoned a plaintiff and warned that her spouse should avoid similar activities to prevent being placed on a domestic terrorism watchlist.

Attorneys representing the plaintiffs argued that compiling databases on public observers infringes upon First Amendment demonstration and free speech protections.

A DHS spokesperson disputed the allegations in a statement to Wired, characterizing the lawsuit as "meritless" and denying that the agency operates a database that tracks and labels domestic terrorists.