ICE Response to Sen. Wyden Inquiry about Facial Recognition Technology

A July 27 letter led by Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) asked ICE and other federal enforcement agencies about current use of facial recognition and any plans for future development. In this response to Senator Wyden’s office dated October 16, ICE only discussed its limited use of existing Customs and Border Patrol and State Department facial recognition databases and a system used by a contractor as part of an alternatives to detention program. The agency did not disclose its conversations with Amazon regarding Rekognition.