ICE DNA Collection Surges to Nearly 1 Million in Second Trump Term
Internal documents indicate that in 2020, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) gathered DNA from almost one million individuals, including minors, reflecting a notable rise during the Trump era. These genetic profiles are incorporated into the FBI's Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), which contains data from individuals who have not been convicted of any crime. This increase is attributed to policies implemented under Trump, which expanded the criteria for DNA collection. Critics claim this infringes on privacy rights, particularly since many sampled are immigrants held for civil infractions. The involvement of children raises issues regarding consent. Law enforcement across the country can access this data, leading to concerns about potential long-term ramifications, with legal challenges anticipated.
Key facts
- ICE collected DNA from nearly 1 million people last year.
- The DNA collection has skyrocketed during the second Trump administration.
- DNA profiles are being added to the FBI's CODIS database.
- Hundreds of thousands of people never convicted of a crime are now in the database.
- Young children are among those whose DNA was collected.
- The information was revealed in internal ICE documents obtained by Wired.
- The collection has raised privacy and due process concerns.
- The Trump administration has defended the practice as a public safety measure.
Entities
Institutions
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- FBI
- Wired
Locations
- United States