Exploring the ‘Uncanny Valley’: ICE’s Covert Growth Strategies, Ethical Issues Among Palantir Employees, and the Role of AI Assistants

Brian Barrett: They have around 80 billion to allocate, with 75 billion required to be spent over the next four years. So, they’re definitely going to continue expanding. Considering the significant impact that 3,000 agents had in Minneapolis alone, which is about one-eighth of their capacity, they can replicate a similar model in various locations.

Leah Feiger: I’ve been receiving inquiries from numerous local reporters across the country over the past day, asking about the locations we’ve highlighted that are close to them or in their respective states or cities. A recurring theme is that, in addition to new buildings, these offices are being integrated into existing government facilities and leases, and that seems to be part of their strategy. Moreover, we’ve discovered that many of these ICE offices are being placed near proposed sites for large immigration detention centers, with offices set up approximately 20 minutes to an hour and 20 minutes away. This setup necessitates a location for lawyers and agents to receive instructions, manage their equipment, and handle the everyday tasks essential for such an operation.

Brian Barrett: That’s a valid point, Leah. When people think of ICE offices, I often have a visceral reaction, picturing agents with guns and masks, but that’s not the full picture here. Could you elaborate on the intended functions of these offices and the personnel involved? Because ICE encompasses more than just the heavily-armed agents.

Leah Feiger: Absolutely. In our report, we highlighted specific divisions within ICE that reached out to the GSA to prioritize the acquisition of new leases. Notably, representatives from the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (Ola) were included in these requests. Ola comprises the lawyers working with the courts, managing deportation orders, and facilitating all necessary legal documents. This aspect of the operation tends to be overshadowed; there’s considerable attention on the DOJ, but a significant piece of this puzzle is the attorneys representing ICE in dealings with the US government, which is Ola. They’ve made extensive outreach to the GSA to secure these locations, particularly focusing on their legal needs. The importance of this expansion cannot be overstated. ICE has consistently detailed its growth in various US cities. One memo we obtained from Ola indicated plans to expand legal operations into areas such as Birmingham, Alabama, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Tampa, Des Moines, Iowa, Boise, Idaho, Louisville, Kentucky, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Grand Rapids, Michigan, St. Louis, Missouri, Raleigh, North Carolina, Long Island, New York, Columbus, Ohio, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina, Nashville, Tennessee, Richmond, Virginia, Spokane, Washington, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. These locations, along with others throughout the rest of the article, stem from requests made by Ola.