Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents have been spotted wearing personal Meta AI smart glasses during operations in at least six US states since President Donald Trump took office, according to an investigation by The Independent. The glasses, which feature voice-controlled AI and can record video, take photos, and livestream, have alarmed civil liberties experts who fear the footage could be used to crack down on opponents of Trump's deportation campaign.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed it does not have a contract with Meta for the glasses, and federal procurement records show no such agreement. DHS policy allows agents to wear personal sunglasses but prohibits recording with personal devices. However, agents have been seen using the glasses to record and photograph members of the public, raising concerns that the footage could be fed into facial recognition software or law enforcement databases.
Patrick G. Eddington, a surveillance analyst at the Cato Institute, told The Independent he is alarmed by the widespread use of the glasses, given the Trump administration's stance that recording or protesting agents is a national security threat. He warned that personal devices allow the government to gather information on people lawfully exercising their First Amendment rights, potentially fueling future searches or arrests.
The concerns are heightened by recent government memos. A September national security memo on domestic terrorism lists 'anti-Americanism' and criticism of law enforcement as key indicators, while a Department of Justice memo reportedly directs the FBI to compile a list of groups holding such views. Outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has also described filming agents during operations as a form of 'violence.'
Reports from multiple cities indicate that people who have filmed or followed immigration agents have had their faces and license plates photographed, or have been followed home. Eddington argues this points to a broader campaign of surveillance and intimidation. The use of off-the-books devices, he said, allows the government to gather data on constitutionally protected activities without oversight.
