US Customs and Border Protection has released a mobile app that allows local law enforcement to scan faces during immigration operations. The Mobile Identify app, launched on October 30, supports duties delegated by federal authorities under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. It draws criticism for potential civil liberties risks similar to an existing tool used by ICE agents.
On October 30, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released the Mobile Identify app on the Google Play store, enabling local law enforcement agencies to assist in federal immigration-enforcement operations. The app is designed for agencies with formal agreements, or Memorandums of Agreement (MOA), under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This provision allows Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to delegate certain immigration-officer duties to trained and certified state and local officers, such as identifying individuals potentially in the country unlawfully.
The app's description states: “This app facilitates functions authorized by Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)... helping to identify and process individuals who may be in the country unlawfully. This tool is built to streamline those responsibilities securely and efficiently, directly in the field.” It requires camera access “to take photos of subjects.” Analysis by 404 Media, which downloaded and decompiled the app, revealed code references to “facescanner,” “FacePresence,” and “No facial image found,” confirming facial recognition capabilities. The app does not return names but provides a reference number for ICE contact or advises against detention based on results. It is currently unavailable for iPhones.
This tool mirrors Mobile Fortify, a face-scanning app already used by ICE agents nationwide. In September, Democratic senators urged ICE to halt Mobile Fortify's use, citing risks of racial profiling and inaccuracies in field conditions. A 2024 National Institute of Standards and Technology test highlighted lower accuracy for low-quality images, and in April 2025, ICE wrongfully detained a US citizen for 30 hours due to a biometric error.
CBP's statement on Mobile Fortify notes it uses the Traveler Verification Service (TVS) for facial and fingerprint matching against immigration records, without storing biometric data. “Biometric data used to identify individuals through TVS are collected by government authorities consistent with the law,” it said.
Cooper Quintin, senior staff technologist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, warned: “face surveillance in general, and this tool specifically, was already a dangerous infringement of civil liberties when in the hands of ICE agents. Putting a powerful surveillance tool like this in the hands of state and local law enforcement officials around the country will only further erode peoples’ Fourth Amendment rights.”
In related developments, the Department of Homeland Security proposed rules this week to expand biometric collection, including face and eye scans, vocal signatures, and DNA, with comments open until January 2, 2026.