DHS Sued Over DNA Surveillance System Targeting Migrants
Since 2020, immigration authorities have been amassing a substantial number of DNA profiles from immigrants, including children, and incorporating them into an extensive criminal database. Although the majority of these individuals are not under accusation of any crime, federal law enforcement agencies have gained access to their intricate DNA profiles, raising concerns about a far-reaching surveillance system impacting many.
A recent lawsuit filed by the Georgetown Law Center on Privacy & Technology demands that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) clarify how it “collects, stores, and uses” these DNA samples. This legal action follows an unanswered Freedom of Information Act request filed last year by Georgetown Law along with two other immigration advocacy groups. Nine months of silence from the agency have led to this lawsuit as an effort to obtain critical answers.
The director of research and advocacy for Georgetown’s center has highlighted the rapid growth of DHS as a primary contributor to the nation’s criminal DNA database, known as the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). Managed by the FBI, this network aids local, state, and federal agencies in matching DNA from crime scenes to identify suspects.
Investigations revealed that border agents have been collecting DNA from nearly all individuals in custody, feeding information into CODIS where it remains indefinitely, essentially due to their immigrant status.
Since 2020, Homeland Security has injected over 1.5 million DNA profiles into this database, representing a colossal surge of 5,000 percent in contributions since 2000. Disturbingly, over 133,000 of these profiles belong to children. Among these minors, nearly 230 are under 13 years old, and upwards of 30,000 range between 14 and 17 years of age.
This extensive program is a marked expansion of genetic surveillance and an unwarranted intrusion into personal privacy, calling into question its implications for immigrants and minority communities. Such measures reinforce negative stereotypes and bolster policies that target these vulnerable groups, according to experts from the privacy center.
The opacity surrounding this program has drawn criticism, with demands for transparency deemed a pressing concern by advocates. This lawsuit is one of several challenging the broader immigration and deportation strategy that incites rapid arrests and removals. With immigration being used as a premise for expanded federal law enforcement measures, concerns mount about the intentions behind this data collection.
Critics argue that DNA collection under the guise of immigration enforcement is misguided. They believe it’s part of a larger strategy aimed not only at deportation but also at using collected data to intimidate and target those perceived as adversaries. Recent reports indicate close ties between the administration and technology firms developing extensive surveillance tools for data collection on countless individuals.
These developments underscore the expanding reach of government surveillance into the lives of immigrants and the broader implications for privacy and civil liberties. As these legal battles unfold, the demand for accountability and transparency continues to intensify, reflecting poignant concerns regarding the balance between national security and individual rights.
