Immigration agents (ICE and CBP) are using a phone app called Mobile Fortify to take photos of people's faces and fingerprints on the street.
How does the app work?
An agent can take your photo without your permission. The app then searches through hundreds of millions of government records to try to find a match. It can pull information from passports, visa applications, airport security cameras, and travel programs like TSA PreCheck and Global Entry.
What information can they see about you?
If the app finds a match, agents may be able to see your:
- Name
- Birthdate
- Nationality
- Immigration status (whether you have a deportation order or visa issues)
- Information about your family members
- Phone number
- Address
- Car information
What if the app gets it wrong?
The app has misidentified people before. Importantly, ICE has said they will trust the app's result even if you show them proof of U.S. citizenship, like a birth certificate.
What happens to your data?
Even if the app doesn't identify you, the Department of Homeland Security saves your photo and the location where it was taken for 15 years. There are also reports that people have lost their TSA PreCheck privileges after being scanned by the app.
Who can be targeted?
Anyone, including U.S. citizens, children, and protesters. You cannot legally opt out or refuse to be scanned.
What can you do?
If you don't want the government to use these tools, contact Congress and the President. Some lawmakers have demanded that ICE stop using Mobile Fortify. The city of Chicago and the state of Illinois have also filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security over the app. You're not alone in your concern about this. Advocates are fighting to stop the government from using technology to monitor people.
Download the guide by JustFutures to learn more about Mobile Fortify.
Última revisión: April 2, 2026