Court records confirm what civil liberties advocates long warned would happen: Immigration and Customs Enforcement is using sensitive data about wire transfers between the U.S. and Mexico to track down immigrants for deportation.the records were filed in a federal criminal case in Hawaii, as first reported by Honolulu Civil Beat earlier this week.

Gregorio Cordova Murrieta, who is originally from Mexico, was not indicted for money laundering, human trafficking, or any of the grave offenses that law enforcement officials typically offer to justify financial surveillance of wire transfers.

Instead, he was indicted in early July on a single count of reentering the country without authorization after having been previously deported to Mexico. This was the sole basis for the arrest warrant submitted by a special agent with ICES Homeland Security Investigations, which once marketed itself as hunting down war criminals and drug smugglers but under the current Trump management has shifted resources toward tracking down undocumented people and critics of Israel’s war on Gaza.

In a filing to a federal magistrate judge on June 25, HSI Special Agent Tabitha Hanson explained how she found Cordova Murrieta using financial surveillance data.

Using “details from a money remittance company,” Hanson identified 11 instances when Cordova murrieta sent “individual remittances to individuals located in Mexico” October 2021 and May 2025. The financial data included an address in ‘Aiea, near Honolulu, where ICE agents surveilled Cordova Murrieta in mid-June and later arrested him on June 26.

“It is indeed disheartening to see ICE and HSI resorting to surveillance tactics that turn routine, lawful actions – like sending money to loved ones – into grounds for immigration enforcement,” said Salmah Y. Rizvi, executive director of the ACLU of Hawaiʻi, in an emailed statement. “Hawaii’s large immigrant community relies on remittances to support families abroad, and this kind of government overreach creates a chilling effect, making people feel unsafe even doing everyday tasks.”

jacquelyn Esser, a federal public defender representing Cordova Murrieta, said his was the only case she had seen in which ICE targeted an individual for deportation using remittance data.

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ICE Is Surveilling Immigrants’ Wire Transfers

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is quietly monitoring wire transfer data of immigrants,even those without criminal records. This surveillance program, revealed through newly obtained documents, raises serious privacy concerns and highlights the agency’s expanding reach into the financial lives of non-citizens.

How the Surveillance Works

ICE contracts with financial institutions and data brokers to access records of wire transfers sent to and from countries where large immigrant populations reside. The agency isn’t looking for evidence of crimes; instead, it’s building a database of financial transactions to identify individuals and families. This data includes names, addresses, transaction amounts, and the recipient’s location.

The program relies on the argument that monitoring remittances – money sent home by immigrants to support their families – can definitely help identify potential criminal activity or national security threats. Though, critics argue that this justification is overly broad and allows for the indiscriminate collection of data on law-abiding individuals.

The Scope of the Program

The documents reveal that ICE has been conducting this surveillance for several years, and the program has substantially expanded in recent times. Initially focused on specific regions, it now encompasses a wider range of countries and financial institutions. The agency has spent millions of dollars on these contracts, demonstrating its commitment to the program.

The surveillance isn’t limited to undocumented immigrants. Legal residents, visa holders, and even U.S. citizens with family members abroad are potentially subject to monitoring. This raises questions about the legality and ethical implications of the program.

Privacy Concerns and Legal Challenges

Civil liberties advocates are raising alarm about the potential for abuse. They argue that the program violates the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. The collection of financial data without a warrant or probable cause is a significant intrusion into personal privacy.

Moreover, the data collected is frequently enough inaccurate or incomplete, leading to false positives and potential misidentification.This can have serious consequences for individuals, including wrongful detention or deportation.

What’s Being Done to Challenge the Program

Several organizations are challenging the program in court, arguing that it violates constitutional rights and privacy laws. They are seeking to compel ICE to disclose more information about the program and to halt the surveillance. Legislators are also calling for greater oversight and clarity.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking detailed information about the program’s scope, cost, and legal basis. They argue that the public has a right to know how ICE is using its surveillance powers.

The Impact on Immigrant Communities

The surveillance program has a chilling effect on immigrant communities. Many individuals are hesitant to send money home to their families, fearing that they will be targeted by ICE. This can have devastating consequences for families who rely on remittances for basic necessities.

The program also erodes trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement. This makes it more challenging to investigate crimes and to build strong, safe communities.

Published: 2025/08/22 02:04:33