Sen Gary Peters Wants ICE to Explain Graphite Spyware Purchase
Immigration Agency Faces Scrutiny Over Mobile Surveillance Tool
Wertynews.com – Sen Gary Peters wants ICE to explain its controversial decision to purchase Graphite, a sophisticated spyware platform that enables covert control of smartphones. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency acquired the commercial surveillance technology through a $2 million sole-source contract, raising significant questions about privacy protections and civil liberties. Originally developed by Paragon Solutions before being acquired by REDLattice, Graphite can secretly capture photographs, track location coordinates, monitor messages, and collect various personal details from targeted mobile devices.
The Democratic Senator from Michigan, who currently serves as the ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, has formally requested comprehensive explanations from the immigration agency regarding this procurement. In a letter dated July 23 that CBS News obtained exclusively, Peters characterized the acquisition as “one of the most significant expansions of DHS and ICE’s surveillance ambitions to date.” His concerns highlight both potential civil liberties implications and emerging national security vulnerabilities associated with the technology.
Domestic Surveillance Concerns Take Center Stage
While Sen Gary Peters wants ICE to clarify whether Graphite operates within U.S. borders, he does not claim that the agency has specifically targeted journalists, demonstrators, or American citizens with the spyware. The senator expressed particular worry about potential applications against Americans, noting existing apprehensions regarding ICE’s monitoring of protests, social media activity, and other activities shielded by the First Amendment. These concerns reflect broader debates about government surveillance capabilities and their domestic implementation.
“Misuse of Graphite is not hypothetical,” Peters wrote in his letter, referencing reports indicating that over 90 journalists and civil society representatives worldwide had been affected by the technology. This statement underscores the real-world implications of deploying such surveillance tools without adequate oversight mechanisms.
Detailed Inquiry Covers Multiple Dimensions
The senator’s inquiry covers multiple dimensions of the spyware program, seeking comprehensive information about its deployment and effectiveness. Peters asked ICE to identify how many U.S. and international individuals have been targeted, their geographic locations, and the rationale behind the procurement decision. Additionally, he sought details on whether collected information has been distributed to other governmental bodies, corporations, or nonprofit entities for further analysis or use.
The extensive request encompasses contracts, privacy evaluations, civil rights assessments, security protocols, and documentation related to a September 2024 agreement, an October 2024 stop-work directive, and the contract’s subsequent reactivation in August 2025. These various components demonstrate the complexity of the surveillance program and the thoroughness of Peters’ investigation into its operations.
Timeline Shows Ongoing Communication Challenges
Peters noted that his committee staff had previously requested briefings from the Department of Homeland Security in December 2025 and from ICE in January 2026, yet received no substantive responses. The ranking member has called for an immediate briefing and established an August 7 deadline for ICE to submit documents and address questions concerning the spyware’s implementation, oversight mechanisms, and security measures. This timeline illustrates the growing frustration within congressional oversight bodies regarding agency responsiveness.
Since Democrats lack congressional control, Peters cannot compel ICE to comply with his requests—he can only formally ask for information. CBS News has contacted ICE, Graphite, and RedLattice for additional commentary on the situation. A senior DHS representative told CBS News that the department and ICE are “[e]mploying various forms of technology in support of investigations and law enforcement activities aids in the arrest of criminal gang members, child sex offenders, murderers, drug dealers, identity thieves and more, all while respecting civil liberties and privacy interests.” This statement attempts to balance the agency’s enforcement capabilities with its commitment to protecting individual rights.
