Amnesty International has raised alarms over the United States government’s increasing reliance on AI surveillance tools to monitor, track, and target migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and pro-Palestine activists.
AI Surveillance: “Catch and Revoke” Initiative
According to recently reviewed public records and procurement documents, technologies developed by Babel Street (Babel X) and Palantir (Immigration OS) are being deployed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
These automated systems enable large-scale monitoring of social media, online behavior, and personal data, creating what Amnesty International describes as a “Catch and Revoke” initiative.
This program combines social media monitoring, visa tracking, and automated threat assessments to identify non-U.S. citizens whose visas may be revoked.
How AI Surveillance Targets Migrants
The AI platform Babel X reportedly scans massive amounts of online content, analyzing sentiment, keywords, and potential intent.
This information can influence U.S. authorities’ decisions to revoke visas, often leading to detention and deportation.
Palantir’s Immigration OS supports ICE operations by integrating case management systems with advanced data tracking, making it easier to flag visa overstays and prioritize deportation cases.
High Error Margins
Amnesty International warns that these technologies have high error margins, risk discrimination, and may falsely flag pro-Palestine speech as extremist or antisemitic content.
The result is a climate of fear among international students, refugees, and other migrant groups—many of whom face visa cancellations without due process.
Human Rights Risks of AI Surveillance
Critics argue that these AI-driven tools undermine fundamental rights, including:
- Right to privacy and freedom of expression
- Right to equality and non-discrimination
- Due process and fair treatment in immigration proceedings
Recent cases highlight this danger.
Students and activists who criticized U.S. policy on Palestine or joined campus protests have reportedly faced visa revocations and even unlawful detentions.
Amnesty International describes these actions as part of a broader crackdown on dissent and a strategy to silence voices supporting Palestinian rights.
Calls for Oversight and Accountability
Human rights organizations are urging greater oversight by U.S. Congress and demanding that tech companies like Palantir and Babel Street conduct comprehensive human rights due diligence.
Without clear safeguards, Amnesty warns, these companies risk becoming complicit in mass deportations, unlawful surveillance, and systemic rights violations.
Amnesty International emphasizes that the use of AI in immigration enforcement should not come at the cost of civil liberties, international law, and basic human dignity.
The organization is calling for an immediate halt to AI surveillance programs that enable arbitrary detentions and deportations.
