42° and Clear
Image
Image: Immigration and Customs Enforcement via Flickr.
On Monday, 404 Media filed a lawsuit against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) demanding the release of documents tied to a $2 million contract with Paragon, an Israeli spyware company. The deal, which allows ICE to obtain tools capable of breaking into encrypted messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Signal, has raised alarm among lawmakers, civil liberties groups, and immigration advocates.
404 Media originally requested the records under the Freedom of Information Act in September 2024, but ICE has yet to respond. The agency signed the contract with Paragon’s U.S. subsidiary last year. Although the Biden administration initially froze the deal over concerns it violated limits on government spyware use, ICE reactivated it in August after Donald Trump returned to office.
The contract describes a “fully configured proprietary solution” including licenses, hardware, and training, but it is unclear whether ICE purchased Paragon’s flagship “Graphite” system or a custom variant. Graphite has previously been linked to surveillance operations in several countries, including suspected deployments against journalists and refugee aid workers.
Critics warn that ICE, already accused of abusive enforcement tactics, could misuse such technology. “ICE is already shredding due process and ruining lives,” Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said. “I’m extremely concerned about how ICE will use Paragon’s spyware to further trample on rights.”
The lawsuit seeks to compel ICE to disclose its records and shed light on how the spyware may be deployed in U.S. immigration enforcement.
