Tech innovation and infrastructure has made it possible for unprecedented levels of surveillance on immigrant communities. Since 2018, we have had our eyes on Palantir Technologies (Palantir) and their collaborations with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
We’ve seen how this dangerous tech company, spearheaded by CEO Alex Karp and Board chairman Peter Thiel, has been used to fuel raids, detentions, deportations, and mass surveillance for years. Palantir’s role in the 2019 Mississippi workplace raids and targeting of sponsors and family members of unaccompanied children are just two examples.
Now, Palantir is at it again. They’re expanding their reach into our data, deepening ties with federal agencies, and putting our communities on the frontlines of a mass surveillance state. Here are 5 things you should know about Palantir, their operations, and their threats to our movements and communities.
1. Palantir’s Role in Building ICE’s Surveillance Machine: A Primer for Organizers
Palantir has been awarded a $30 million contract to build “ImmigrationOS” (ICE Immigration Lifecycle Operating System), a massive platform for “streamlining selection and apprehension operations”.
The database will combine sensitive data obtained by DOGE, from across agencies like the IRS, SSA, DHS, and USCIS. These are the very systems immigrant communities are expected to engage with in order to live, work, and survive. From ITIN numbers to tax filings to immigration records, the government will use protected information to build a real-time map of individuals’ lives.
The same structures meant to serve the public will now funnel data into a tool that tracks, targets, and terrorizes our gente. The danger of our own data being weaponized against us when using public systems (applying for visas, paying taxes, etc) cannot be understated.
2. Palantir’s Military Ties Matter for Organizers Fighting ICE + State Violence
This private corporation, funded and led by billionaire tech bro Peter Thiel, centralizes power through harnessing our data. They’re doing it with no transparency, no regulation, and no oversight – and it’s been going on for a long time.
Under the Obama administration, Palantir built the current ICE system, Investigative Case Management (ICM). This system pulls together personal and private information across various federal agencies and local city and state departments. From this, ICE is able to piece together details from financial spending, biometrics, employment, education, and more.
“ICE uses ICM not only to collect information about its targets but also people who come in contact with them such as their associates and employers, citizen and non-citizen alike.”
– Matthew Feeny, 2017 Reason article
3. Palantir’s Surveillance Empire Is Growing — Here’s What We’re Up Against
Through worldwide military and security contracts, Palantir’s business model relies on their relationships to governments – especially the US. Their roots run deep with ties to the Department of Defense, including tech and infrastructure development for the military.
Alex Karp and Peter Thiel have both promoted making big tech synonymous with state and military power, integrating Silicon Valley with outfitting the government for war. In addition to influence in defense contracts, Thiel has played a key behind-the-scenes role in staffing both the first and second Trump administrations. Under CEO Alex Karp, Palantir has positioned itself as a cultural warrior for “the West” and U.S. supremacy.
4. The Palantir Power-grab to Monopolize U.S. Government Surveillance against ALL of us
There seems to be no limit on how much information can be snatched up, sold, and bought for the government to keep tabs on us. Looking at the “big beautiful bill” (or “big fucked up bill” as we’re calling it), it’s clear that there are wheels in motion for this tech infrastructure to continue to balloon.
We are incredibly alarmed to see $700 million set aside in this bill for ICE’s “information technology investments to support enforcement and removal operations.” And from what we’ve seen before, Palantir is likely to benefit greatly from this funding.
Already, Palantir is rumoured to be in conversation with the administration over a national citizen database, which has even MAGA-supporters worried. They are allegedly looking into gaining access to the Social Security Administration, Department of Education, and more.
5. This Is What Corporate Surveillance Looks Like — And How We Resist It
Since the early days of #NoTechForICE, we have fought back against Palantir. Now, the moment demands that we continue the fight, exposing their actions over and over until all our gente know. We have seen Palantir test its technology on immigrant and overpoliced communities over the years. Their next steps show that they are applying what they’ve learned towards the people at-large.
This is about human rights violations, people being arrested at work, separated from their children, detained in inhumane conditions, all facilitated by Palantir’s software.
– Jacinta Gonzalez, MediaJustice
Palantir is shamelessly profiting off of the personal information gathered from immigrants and all of us. Their power and profit hungry motivations affect all of us. Fighting back against Palantir is a fight against corporate greed. We need to organize together to stop this Big Tech beast.
