U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is expanding its use of biometrics with the acquisition of mobile iris-scanning systems designed to identify individuals in a matter of seconds. The new technology will be deployed by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division and marks another step in the agency’s ongoing efforts to modernize its surveillance and identification infrastructure.
Mobile Iris Recognition Systems for Field Operations
ICE’s procurement includes two systems: the Mobile Offender Recognition & Identification System (MORIS) and the Inmate Recognition & Identification System (I.R.I.S.). Both are developed by BI2 Technologies, which initially marketed them to U.S. sheriff departments for inmate intake and release procedures. According to company materials and federal procurement records, these systems are capable of performing iris scans and returning matches within seconds, even in field conditions.
MORIS enables rapid biometric identification of individuals in custody and facilitates access to records from other jurisdictions. Once an individual is enrolled in the system, their biometric data can be shared across agencies to verify identity and immigration history. I.R.I.S., meanwhile, is described as the first national web-based iris biometric network, allowing federal, state, and local agencies to contribute and access biometric data in real time.
Part of a Broader Surveillance Strategy
This acquisition comes amid a broader effort by ICE to expand its surveillance toolkit. Earlier this year, the agency began testing the Mobile Fortify app, a facial recognition tool used in field operations to scan and identify individuals. Like the iris-scanning systems, Mobile Fortify is part of a larger digital modernization push intended to support ICE’s enforcement and deportation missions.
The timing of these new technology deployments coincides with a major increase in federal support for border enforcement technology. In July 2025, Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which allocates over $6 billion for advanced surveillance, biometric systems, and artificial intelligence tools used along U.S. borders and in immigration enforcement.
The growing use of biometric technologies by ICE also mirrors global trends in border and immigration control. Countries such as Thailand have deployed biometric systems to track undocumented migrant workers, while the U.S. and Chile have expanded biometric data-sharing agreements under the BITMAP framework.
Although supporters of these technologies argue they improve efficiency and public safety, privacy advocates continue to raise concerns about civil liberties, transparency, and oversight. As ICE prepares to implement these systems nationwide, questions remain about how the data will be managed, who will have access, and what safeguards will be in place to prevent misuse.
–
By Cass Kennedy
