According to reports, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been utilizing a device known as Stingray, which simulates the function of a cell tower to track the location of mobile phones. However, this technology has raised concerns as it also intercepts communications of innocent bystanders within its range.
A recent operation in Orem, Utah, involved ICE using Stingray to locate a man who had escaped from a Venezuelan prison and was allegedly associated with local gangs. Initially, court approval was sought to trace the suspect’s phone number, but the results were imprecise. Subsequently, ICE obtained permission to deploy the base station simulator to pinpoint the fugitive’s exact location. The outcome of this operation remains undisclosed.
This incident highlights ICE’s persistence in using controversial surveillance technologies, despite opposition from human rights groups that have criticized such practices. In 2025, anomalies in network connectivity were detected during a migration service rally in Washington, hinting at potential Stingray usage.
Financial records also reveal ICE’s efforts to expand its surveillance tools. In a recent transaction, ICE procured mobile surveillance units for nearly a million dollars, along with an ongoing agreement with Harris Corporation, the original creator of Stingray, valued at up to $4.4 million. These acquisitions demonstrate ICE’s continuing investment in tracking and monitoring technologies.