ICE surveillance device tested in Denver to expand nationally

DENVER — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) started testing a new surveillance device on immigrants in the Denver area in May. Now, ICE is expanding its test to Los Angeles, with plans to use the device nationwide.

ICE has not publicly announced the expansion of the pilot program. But a Denver7 review of ICE data released in late August shows that in addition to the 50 original participants in Denver, the agency is now testing the watch on 50 immigrants in Los Angeles.

An ICE spokesperson told Denver7 the “limited deployment” in Denver and Los Angeles is intended “to further test feasibility” of the technology before rolling it out nationwide.

“The device leverages technology similar to a consumer smartwatch, but it cannot be used for any function beyond compliance with immigration-related activities,” the ICE spokesperson said.

The device, known as the VeriWatch, can track a person’s location in real-time, scan their face and send and receive messages from ICE officers and case managers. ICE says it is a less obtrusive way to ensure immigrants who are not detained show up for their court hearings and other obligations.

But immigrant rights advocates in Denver say ICE hasn’t provided much advance notice or explanation of the technology before using it in the community.

Anaya Robinson, a senior policy strategist for the ACLU of Colorado, said ICE told community groups in Denver about the pilot “mere hours before the actual rollout occurred, and then folks within the community were contacted to show up that day, or the next day, to receive their smartwatches and start utilizing them for monitoring.”

You can read the rest of this article and watch the accompanying video at Denver7.com