Bounty hunters are in line to become the next tool of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under a procurement document reviewed by the Intercept, the website reported Friday.
"Under the plan, bounty hunters may receive 'monetary bonuses' depending on how successfully they track down their targets — and how many immigrants they then report to ICE," the report said. "According to the document, which solicits information from interested contractors for a potentially forthcoming contract opportunity, companies hired by ICE will be given bundles of information on 10,000 immigrants at a time to locate, with further assignments provided in 'increments of 10,000 up to 1,000,000.'"
ICE is seeking a high-tech, low-civil liberties operation.
"Contractors will surveil their target to confirm the accuracy of their home address, including 'time-stamped photographs of the location,' before reporting back to ICE. The vendor should prioritize the alien’s residence,” the document notes, “but failing that will attempt to verify place of employment.
"The plan entails not just on-the-ground monitoring, but the use of digital surveillance."
Additionally, "ICE will be given bundles of information on 10,000 immigrants at a time to locate, with further assignments provided in increments of 10,000 up to 1,000,000.”
On Bluesky, poster Russ commented, "ICE to hire bounty hunters to hunt migrants for cash. Texas hunts women for cash. The US government hunts people for cash. They aren't keeping people out. They are trapping us in."