ICE Says It Doesnt Track Down Undocumented Immigrants Using Stingray Devices. Acting head of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Thomas Homan told Sen. Ron Wyden the agency does not use cell site simulatorsa type of surveillance gear often referred to as a Stingray that can track down a specific mobile device by emulating cell phone towersto locate undocumented immigrants. Per Ars Technica, the August 1. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations does not use cell site simulators for the purpose of civil immigration law enforcement. But he added that ICEs Homeland Security Investigations division, which targets national security threats and organized crime, uses the devices, though only after receiving a warrant. Homan also noted that ICE agents sometimes work in joint task forces with other federal, state and local law enforcement partners, in furtherance of our shared public safety missionand that in those cases, Stingrays may sometimes be used. That caveat is important In March, ICE used a Stingray variant known as a Hailstorm to locate 2. El Salvadorean man Rudy Carcamo Carranza, who had entered the US illegally twice and was wanted in connection to alleged drunk driving and hit and run incidents. The ICE officer involved in the investigation, Jeremy Mc. Cullough, was a member of the ERO department but was also assigned to the FBIs Violent Gang Task Force. So for ICE agents to use a cell site simulator to track people suspected of immigration law violations, they just need to be assigned to such a unit. Wyden had asked ICE a number of questions about its use of the devices in May, though Homans letter does not appear to have totally addressed all of them. Cell site simulators are controversial law enforcement tools because they spoof a regular base transceiver station, tricking all cellular devices in the area into connecting to it.
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November 2017
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