ICE Reportedly Uses Palantir Database to Compile Dossiers on Protestors

Allegations of Dossier Creation

Unsealed court documents reveal allegations that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents are creating dossiers on individuals who observe or protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. These files reportedly contain sensitive information such as photos and license plate numbers.

The collected data is allegedly stored in a database named Investigative Case Management, which was built by Palantir. This information surfaced as part of a class-action lawsuit.

Source of Information

The new details emerged from a partially unsealed court filing related to a January ICE operation in Maine. This filing became publicly available as a redacted version on Friday, revealing the purported database of ICE protestors.

Tactics and Intimidation Claims

The lawsuit claims that DHS agents tracked and intimidated observers and protestors, sometimes by driving past their homes or labeling them as "Threat to Law Enforcement, Professional Protestor." One instance cited involves an agent reportedly calling a plaintiff to suggest their spouse avoid similar activities, implying they might be added to a domestic terrorism watchlist.

First Amendment Concerns

Attorneys representing the plaintiffs argue that the existence of such a database creates a "chilling effect" on the First Amendment rights of protestors. They contend that these actions discourage individuals from exercising their right to protest.

DHS Response

A DHS spokesperson stated that the case is "meritless" and denied the existence of any database that labels and tracks "domestic terrorists." This response contradicts the claims made in the unsealed court documents.