Support 'ICE Out of Our Faces Act': Ban Facial Recognition by ICE

I am writing to express my strong support for the "ICE Out of Our Faces Act," a critical piece of legislation introduced by Senators Ed Markey, Jeff Merkley, Ron Wyden, and Pramila Jayapal. This bill aims to ban Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents, along with some local police working in collaboration with them, from using biometric surveillance systems—such as face recognition technology—due to their alarming misuse and disregard for civil liberties and digital rights. The recent events in Minnesota highlight the dangers of unchecked immigration enforcement agencies that employ intrusive technologies like facial scanning, which has already misidentified at least one individual according to 404 Media. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) reports that ICE and CBP have conducted face scans over 100,000 times, showcasing an alarming pattern of disregard for citizens' rights and privacy. Given the current abuses and misuse of biometric surveillance systems by these agencies, it is imperative to implement a ban on their usage. The "ICE Out of Our Faces Act" not only prohibits ICE and CBP from acquiring or using such technologies but also ensures enforcement through a robust private right of action. This legislative move aligns with Senator Markey's continuous efforts in curbing the federal government’s misuse of biometric surveillance systems, as evidenced by his previous introduction of similar legislation that would ban all federal law enforcement agencies and some state agencies from using such technology. Face surveillance technology is fundamentally harmful and should be banned regardless of potential regulations or its accuracy. The bill's introduction marks a significant step towards protecting citizens' rights against the invasive and dangerous nature of this technology when wielded by unaccountable enforcement agencies. In light of these grave concerns, I urge you to support and pass the "ICE Out of Our Faces Act" without delay. We must safeguard our civil liberties and digital rights from invasive surveillance practices that undermine our democratic values and put vulnerable communities at risk. Thank you for considering my urgent appeal to protect citizens' fundamental rights.