It also freezes ICE’s Clearview AI contract until Congress receives clear assurances that bystanders, observers, and protestors are not swept into the enforcement dragnet.
Freeze ICE's Clearview AI contract until Congress receives assurances that bystanders, observers, and protestors are not swept into the enforcement dragnet.
Occurrences
Evidence
The article says Chellie Pingree proposed the Stop ICE Intimidation Act, which would block ICE funding for more surveillance tools until DHS explains to Congress how it uses databases, biometric technologies, and facial recognition.
Wired reports that 34 lawmakers sent DHS and ICE a letter demanding transparency over surveillance tools, including Clearview AI, and asking whether DHS is tracking people engaged in lawful protests.
The Guardian reports ICE agents used facial recognition during a warrantless arrest operation in Oregon, and a federal judge later said the arrests appeared unlawful and criticized the technology as capable of producing inaccurate matches.
El Pais reported that Rep. Chellie Pingree proposed the Stop ICE Intimidation Act, which would prevent ICE from receiving funds for more surveillance tools until DHS explains to Congress how it uses databases, biometric technologies, and facial recognition. The article described the bill as responding to surveillance and intimidation of observers.
The Washington Post reported that ICE signed a September 5, 2025 Clearview AI facial-recognition order worth $3.75 million, citing the Federal Procurement Data System, and that the contract covered child sexual exploitation cases and assaults against law enforcement officers.
The Washington Post reported that ICE had started using facial recognition technology in the streets, that some U.S. citizens reported real-time face checks, and that ICE’s September Clearview AI contract listed assaults against law enforcement officers as a use.
Senators Wyden, Merkley, and Markey urged ICE to stop using Mobile Fortify and asked for answers about deployment, testing, legal review, policies, and whether ICE would commit to ending use of the app.
Wired reported that 34 members of Congress demanded DHS and ICE provide details about surveillance firms including Clearview AI, and asked whether DHS collected or retained information about people observing, documenting, or protesting immigration enforcement operations.
People reported that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem denied DHS was creating a protester database during a House Judiciary hearing, after Rep. Lou Correa referenced a Maine incident in which an ICE officer appeared to scan a protester and record her plate.
The Guardian reported that body-camera footage and court testimony showed ICE agents used a facial-recognition app during an Oregon operation, and that a federal judge criticized the technology because it can be inaccurate.
Wired reported that CBP signed a $225,000 one-year Clearview AI contract for access to more than 60 billion public images and that the deal raised questions about U.S. citizens, data retention, and photo uploads.
Assessments
Pingree appears to have materially pursued the promise by proposing the Stop ICE Intimidation Act, which sought to block ICE funding for additional surveillance tools until DHS provided explanations to Congress about its use of biometric and facial-recognition systems. But the available evidence does not show that ICE's Clearview AI contract was actually frozen or that Congress received the specific assurances promised about protecting bystanders, observers, and protesters. Subsequent reporting instead indicates ICE continued using facial-recognition-driven enforcement and that lawmakers were still demanding transparency, so the promised outcome was not achieved despite a serious legislative effort.