Reps. Garamendi, Espaillat and 70 Democrats Call for Investigation of ICE, DHS Warrantless Purchases of Americans’ Location Data
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-NY, and 70 Democratic lawmakers called for a new investigation of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), over warrantless purchases of Americans’ location data.
The members called on DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari to investigate ICE and other DHS agencies restarting warrantless purchases of Americans’ location data. The DHS Inspector General previously found that ICE’s data purchases were illegal, causing the program to shut down in 2023.
“Location data is extremely sensitive, and can reveal someone’s religion, their political views, medical conditions, addictions, and with whom they spend time. It is for that reason that ordinarily, the government must obtain a warrant from a judge in order to demand such data from phone or technology companies,” the members wrote to DHS Inspector Cuffari.
“Given DHS’ failure to adopt a policy for the use of commercial data, coupled with ICE awarding a no-bid contract to a shady data broker that is likely violating federal law, we urge you to open another investigation into the purchase and use of location data by ICE and other DHS components,” the members continued.
ICE issued a no-bid contract to the surveillance company Penlink in 2025, which included licenses for its location tracking product, Webloc, according to a report by 404 Media. Webloc was developed by the controversial surveillance company Cobwebs Technologies, which combined with Penlink in 2023. Meta banned Cobwebs in 2021, as part of a crackdown on surveillance mercenaries after detecting the company’s customers targeting activists, opposition politicians and government officials in Hong Kong and Mexico.
ICE has stonewalled congressional oversight of its location data purchases. Senator Wyden’s office requested a briefing from ICE soon after this contract was reported in October 2025. In December 2025, a briefing was scheduled for February 10, 2026. One day before that briefing was to take place, ICE cancelled it with no explanation and without any offer to reschedule.
The letter is signed by Senators Alex Padilla, Calif., Richard Blumenthal, Conn., Andy Kim, N.J., Chris Van Hollen, Md., Adam Schiff, Calif., Brian Schatz, Hawaii, Raphael Warnock, Ga., Angela Alsobrooks, Md., Peter Welch, Vt., Ben Ray Luján, N.M., Cory Booker, N.J., Jeff Merkley, Ore., Edward J. Markey, Mass., Elizabeth Warren, Mass., and Tammy Duckworth, Ill.
It is also signed by Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, N.Y., Pramila Jayapal, Wash., Joaquin Castro, Texas, Greg Casar, Texas, Jim McGovern, Mass., Sara Jacobs, Calif., Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ill., Yvette Clarke, N.Y., Grace Meng, N.Y., Shontel Brown, Ohio, André Carson, Ind., Ro Khanna, Calif., Nydia Velázquez, N.Y. , Robin Kelly, Ill., Zoe Lofgren, Calif., Mary Gay Scanlon, Pa., Veronica Escobar, Texas, Paul Tonko, N.Y., Jimmy Gomez, Calif., Lori Trahan, Mass., Rashida Tlaib, Mich., Nanette Barragán, Calif., Lateefah Simon, Calif., Jesús García, Ill., Stephen Lynch, Mass., Juan Vargas, Calif., Lloyd Doggett, Texas, Eleanor Norton, D.C., Norma Torres Calif., Madeleine Dean, Pa., Doris Matsui, Calif., Suzanne Bonamici, Ore., Maxine Dexter, Ore., Andrea Salinas, Ore., Luz Rivas Calif., Ritchie Torres, N.Y., Dan Goldman, N.Y., Adelita Grijalva, Ariz., Robert Menendez, N.J., Delia Ramirez, Ill., Mike Quigley, Ill., Richard Neal, Mass., Becca Balint, Vt., Darren Soto, Fla., Mark Takano, Calif., Linda Sánchez, Calif., Jasmine Crockett. Texas, Sylvia Garcia, Texas, Seth Moulton, Mass., Kelly Morrison, Minn., Eric Swalwell, Calif., and Mike Levin, Calif.
The members requested the inspector general investigate:
Whether ICE and other DHS components are purchasing illegally obtained location data about Americans and, if yes, why DHS does not have policies in place to prevent taxpayer dollars from going to contractors that have invaded Americans’ privacy in violation of federal law.
How ICE and other DHS components have used location data and whether they have used it to investigate Americans for engaging in constitutionally protected activities, including those protesting ICE actions or monitoring ICE enforcement operations.
Whether ICE and other DHS components are auditing employee access to commercial location data to identify likely patterns of abuse, and if yes, whether such audits have discovered abuse.
Why has DHS still not adopted a policy for the use of commercial location data, as you recommended in 2023.
The full text of the letter is here.
###