ICE is using a tracking app to identify people who can easily be deported - then arrest them

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Independent

Wednesday 11 June 2025 14:30 EDT


ICE agents are reportedly using a new mapping app to track down migrants living illegally in the U.S who can be easily deported to meet Donald Trump’s aggressive quotas.

The app, an early version of which was known as Alien Tracker or ATRAC, allows agents and officers to view areas around the country with higher concentrations of people under deportation orders, making them more vulnerable to detention.

Information about more than 700,000 individuals is recorded on the app and is available in a “baseball-card-style format,” according to documents obtained by The New York Times. The Times reports that the app was launched with the help of Elon Musk and DOGE, before the billionaire’s exit from the department late last month.

According to documents seen by the outlet and accounts from ICE officials in Florida, the app also allows officers to identify immigrants with criminal convictions, further increasing the chances of a swift removal.

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/ice-immigrants-arrests-government-database-b2768278.html

[aggiesal]

1. We all carry a tracking device with us almost 100% of the time ...

Earlier versions of cell phones allowed us to remove the battery.
Now all batteries are sealed in place so that we can't removed them. Why?
Does anyone know the real reason why we can't remove our cell phone batteries?

My theory is that the government forced them to make cell phones with sealed batteries.
And when we power them down, the GPS is not powered down, so they can keep track of us
whether we have our phones on or off.
Like Bill Maher says, "I don't know it for a fact, I just know that it's true."

[forgotmylogin]

2. One other option is "reset to factory settings" in an emergency.

You can still make 911 emergency calls on a phone that is not set up.

[aggiesal]

3. Or maybe remove the sim card, that's what connects to the cell towers. n/t

[LauraInLA]

4. New iPhones have eSIM cards now.

[aggiesal]

7. My VPN service offers free eSims as well. ...

I can switch between phones just by switching eSims

[LauraInLA]

8. Ah, thank you!

[LauraInLA]

5. This explains a bit of what we've been seeing in L.A. I've been wondering about snitches.