A US government agency has partnered with a military contractor to track down and apprehend undocumented immigrants, the latest development in a growing controversy over private contractors playing a major role in immigration enforcement.
Constellis Holdings, which was formed after merging with Academi (formerly Blackwater) and Triple Canopy, is providing "skip tracing" services for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This involves using various techniques and technologies to locate individuals on ICE's target list.
The deal, worth up to $113 million, comes as part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to expand private contractors' role in immigration enforcement. The plan has been criticized by many who argue that it represents an attempt to circumvent Congress and undermine public oversight.
For its part, Constellis maintains that its services will be used only for the purpose of locating undocumented immigrants, not for any other law enforcement purposes. However, some critics have questioned how much latitude contractors like Constellis will have in terms of their activities and whether they will be subject to adequate oversight.
What's particularly concerning is the financial arrangement at play here. Contractors will receive monetary bounties for each immigrant located and turned over to ICE, which could potentially create a perverse incentive for them to pursue certain individuals.
The use of private contractors like Constellis in immigration enforcement has been growing under the Trump administration, with billions of dollars in contracts awarded to these firms over the years. While some argue that it's a more efficient way to carry out tasks, others see it as a threat to public trust and accountability.
In this case, the partnership between ICE and Constellis brings together two entities with long histories of controversy surrounding their work. The company, which was once infamous for its role in several high-profile incidents involving contractors' abuse of power, has maintained that it's committed to working with government agencies like ICE to help track down and deport undocumented immigrants.
While some may view this arrangement as a necessary evil, others see it as an attempt by the Trump administration to erode public oversight and undermine democratic norms. As concerns about private contractors' involvement in immigration enforcement continue to grow, many are left wondering whether this will ultimately prove to be a recipe for disaster.
Constellis Holdings, which was formed after merging with Academi (formerly Blackwater) and Triple Canopy, is providing "skip tracing" services for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This involves using various techniques and technologies to locate individuals on ICE's target list.
The deal, worth up to $113 million, comes as part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to expand private contractors' role in immigration enforcement. The plan has been criticized by many who argue that it represents an attempt to circumvent Congress and undermine public oversight.
For its part, Constellis maintains that its services will be used only for the purpose of locating undocumented immigrants, not for any other law enforcement purposes. However, some critics have questioned how much latitude contractors like Constellis will have in terms of their activities and whether they will be subject to adequate oversight.
What's particularly concerning is the financial arrangement at play here. Contractors will receive monetary bounties for each immigrant located and turned over to ICE, which could potentially create a perverse incentive for them to pursue certain individuals.
The use of private contractors like Constellis in immigration enforcement has been growing under the Trump administration, with billions of dollars in contracts awarded to these firms over the years. While some argue that it's a more efficient way to carry out tasks, others see it as a threat to public trust and accountability.
In this case, the partnership between ICE and Constellis brings together two entities with long histories of controversy surrounding their work. The company, which was once infamous for its role in several high-profile incidents involving contractors' abuse of power, has maintained that it's committed to working with government agencies like ICE to help track down and deport undocumented immigrants.
While some may view this arrangement as a necessary evil, others see it as an attempt by the Trump administration to erode public oversight and undermine democratic norms. As concerns about private contractors' involvement in immigration enforcement continue to grow, many are left wondering whether this will ultimately prove to be a recipe for disaster.
i'm not sure about this partnership between ICE and Constellis... $113 million is a big deal! how much of that money is actually going towards actual tracking services vs just profiteering from the government? 
also, what kind of "adequate oversight" are we talking about here? is it just a rubber stamp from Congress or are there actual checks and balances in place to prevent contractors from getting too aggressive? 
and let's not forget about the human cost... who gets caught up in this whole mess and how do they get support once they're apprehended? 
these are some tough questions that need answers! 
. I mean, what's next? Contractors tracking down tax evaders or something? It just seems like a slippery slope to me. And have you seen the bounties they're offering for turning in undocumented immigrants? That's just plain weird 
. I don't trust these contractors as far as I can throw them 
. They're basically getting paid to chase down people and turn them over to ICE, which is already a pretty sketchy operation in my book 
. And what about the oversight? Are they gonna be held accountable or what? 
.
... it's like they're trying to make sure no one knows what's really going on behind closed doors. And now with Constellis involved, I'm worried about the financial aspect - those bounties for locating undocumented immigrants could lead to some shady behavior 
... it's just not right. We need more transparency and oversight, not less 
? The financial incentives are already a huge red flag - who knows how much pressure Constellis will be under to find the "right" people to deport? And let's not forget about the whole accountability thing... does anyone actually know what's going on behind closed doors here? 
then who pays the $113 million? 
it seems so fishy to me. 
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. If contractors get paid for locating undocumented immigrants, they might prioritize those with the most lucrative bounties (aka those who are easier to track down) over others. That could lead to more missed opportunities for actual reform 
. At the same time, I also get why some people want to boost efficiency and make immigration enforcement more effective 
. But we need to make sure there's adequate oversight in place to prevent abuse of power 
. Can't we find a middle ground that balances progress with accountability? 
It just feels like another way for the powers that be to skirt around accountability and make things more complicated than they need to be.