The Intercept exposed how immigration agents surveil wire transfers
6 hours ago
- #civil liberties
- #immigration
- #surveillance
- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes initially defended the Transaction Record Analysis Center (TRAC), a financial surveillance program tracking wire transfers between the U.S. and Mexico.
- Mayes later restricted ICE's access to TRAC data after reports of misuse for immigration enforcement, particularly targeting non-criminal undocumented individuals.
- TRAC, established in 2014, collects data on wire transfers via Western Union and other companies, originally intended for money laundering investigations.
- ICE agents used TRAC data to locate and deport individuals without criminal records, leading to public outcry and legal challenges.
- Civil liberties groups, including the ACLU, argue TRAC enables mass surveillance and demand its shutdown, citing risks of abuse beyond immigration enforcement.
- Recent policy changes require TRAC users to specify money laundering-related offenses for queries, but critics say these measures are insufficient.
- Cases highlighted include Gregorio Cordova Murrieta in Hawaii and 'Monica' in Texas, both targeted via wire transfer data despite no criminal activity.
- ICE's expanded role in deportation efforts has diverted resources from financial crime investigations to immigration enforcement using TRAC data.
- Advocates warn that unchecked surveillance tools like TRAC threaten civil liberties and could eventually target U.S. citizens.