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US Police Get Controversial Face-Scanning App Used by ICE

November 5, 2025Last Updated: November 5, 2025

2 minutes read

Close-up of an ICE Officer badge hanging from a chain on a tactical vest. — (FILES) File image dated May 7, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey, shows a badge hanging over the uniform of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. Natalia fled Russia fearing imminent arrest for her family's opposition activism and sought political asylum in the United States. But instead of refuge, she found herself locked in jail for over a year, separated from her husband and children and dreading deportation. With the Trump administration stepping up removals as part of its sweeping anti-immigration crackdown, rights activists warn that deporting Russian dissidents puts them at risk of prison and persecution back home. "I supported the opposition, I supported opposition activists who were against (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's regime," Natalia, 50, told AFP in a phone interview from an immigration detention center in the southern state of Louisiana. "If I return to Russia, I will be arrested." (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)

▼ Summary

– US Customs and Border Protection launched a face-scanning app called Mobile Identity for local law enforcement agencies assisting with immigration enforcement.
– The app operates under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, allowing trained local officers to perform certain immigration enforcement functions.
– The app requires camera access to take photos of subjects but does not return names after a face search, instead providing a reference number to contact ICE.
– Code analysis revealed the app contains references to face scanning features, including packages named “facescanner” and mentions of “FacePresence.”
– The Mobile Identity app is currently available on Google Play but not on iPhone as of the reporting date.

A new facial recognition application developed by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is now accessible to local police departments collaborating on federal immigration enforcement efforts. Known as Mobile Identify, the tool became available for download on the Google Play store at the end of October. This technology aims to support agencies operating under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which permits Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to authorize designated state and local officers to carry out specific immigration-related duties.

According to the app’s official description, Mobile Identify helps streamline responsibilities tied to formal agreements between the Department of Homeland Security and participating sheriff’s departments. Specially trained officers can use the application to assist in identifying and processing individuals who may be residing in the United States without legal permission. The tool is promoted as a secure and efficient field solution for carrying out these delegated enforcement functions.

The Google Play store listing for Mobile Identify includes a screenshot indicating that the software requires camera permissions “to take photos of subjects.” A recent investigative report from 404 Media provided further insight into the app’s functionality. Citing a knowledgeable source, the outlet explained that the application does not directly provide names following a facial search. Instead, depending on the outcome, it either supplies a reference number and instructs the user to contact ICE, or advises officers not to detain the individual.

404 Media also conducted a technical review after downloading and decompiling the app’s code. Their analysis uncovered multiple explicit references to facial scanning capabilities, including a package labeled “facescanner” and other segments mentioning “FacePresence” and “No facial image found.” At this time, the Mobile Identify app is not offered on Apple’s App Store and remains exclusive to the Android platform.

(Source: Ars Technica)