Lawmakers Demand Investigation into ICE's Detainee Locator System Amid Allegations of 'Disappearances'
Democrats accuse ICE of creating ‘disappearances’ on US soil
The Guardian
Image: The Guardian
A group of 36 U.S. lawmakers, led by Senator Elizabeth Warren, has accused the Department of Homeland Security of creating 'disappearances' due to failures in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement's online detainee locator system. They are calling for an investigation into the system's reliability, which has reportedly deteriorated since January 2025.
- 01Lawmakers claim the online detainee locator system has become increasingly unreliable.
- 02The letter calls for an investigation by the DHS inspector general's office.
- 03High-profile cases, like that of Any Lopez Belloza, highlight the system's failures.
- 04There are currently over 70,000 individuals detained by ICE.
- 05Systemic issues, including high detention rates and non-traditional facilities, contribute to the problems.
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A coalition of 36 lawmakers, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, has expressed grave concerns about the Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) online detainee locator system (ODLS), which they claim has led to 'disappearances' of individuals detained by immigration authorities. In a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) inspector general's office, the lawmakers highlight that the system has become 'increasingly unreliable' since January 2025, making it difficult for family members, attorneys, and journalists to track detainees. They cite specific cases, such as that of Any Lopez Belloza, a 19-year-old college student who was deported before her location was updated in the ODLS, as evidence of the system's failures. The lawmakers are urging an investigation into the systemic failures contributing to the issues with the ODLS, which has been in place since 2010. They point to the high number of detainees, currently exceeding 70,000, and the use of non-traditional detention facilities as factors exacerbating the situation. The letter also raises concerns about the lack of oversight at these facilities and the rapid transfers of detainees, which further complicate tracking efforts. As the Trump administration continues its aggressive immigration policies, the lawmakers are demanding accountability and transparency from ICE and the DHS.
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The unreliability of the detainee locator system affects families trying to locate their loved ones in immigration detention, potentially leading to wrongful deportations.
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