ICE to Access Israeli Spyware Program

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been granted renewed access to a powerful Israeli spyware program following the reinstatement of a $2 million contract with Paragon Solutions, a company known for developing advanced mobile phone hacking tools. The contract, originally signed in late September 2024, had been suspended by the Biden administration amid concerns that its use could violate a 2023 executive order restricting federal procurement of commercial spyware. However, in late August 2025, the stop-work order was lifted, and ICE is now authorized to receive 'hardware and perpetual license software,' according to federal procurement records.

Background and Technology

Paragon Solutions, founded by a former commander of Israel’s elite Unit 8200, has developed spyware—most notably the 'Graphite' platform—that can infiltrate mobile devices, extract encrypted messages, access cloud backups, and even turn phones into covert listening devices. The firm's technology has previously been linked to the targeting of journalists and activists in Europe, with Citizen Lab researchers confirming infections of iPhones belonging to at least two European journalists. The spyware exploits critical vulnerabilities in iOS, prompting urgent security updates from Apple.

Controversy and Human Rights Concerns

The reinstatement of the ICE contract has sparked significant backlash from civil liberties and privacy advocates. Organizations like the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.) and Amnesty International have condemned the U.S. government's decision, highlighting the risks of abuse, unlawful surveillance, and arbitrary arrests—particularly given ICE’s history of aggressive immigration enforcement and contentious surveillance practices. Critics argue that deploying such invasive technology at a time of heightened crackdowns on students, protesters, and migrants poses grave threats to civil liberties.

Experts warn of the broader counterintelligence risks posed by the proliferation of mercenary spyware. John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at Citizen Lab, noted that the global spread of these tools to multiple governments inherently increases the risk of misuse and undermines democratic oversight. Donncha O Cearbhaill, head of Amnesty International's Security Lab, called the U.S. acquisition of Paragon’s technology 'deeply concerning' in the current political climate.

U.S. Government and Industry Response

While the federal government has not released detailed statements about the specific intended use of Paragon’s spyware, procurement documents indicate that ICE will receive a 'fully configured proprietary solution' with training and support. The contract’s reactivation follows the acquisition of Paragon by U.S. investment firm AE Industrial Partners, which merged it with REDLattice, another U.S. cyber company. Some observers speculate that this U.S. ownership may have influenced the decision to lift the ban, though officials have not confirmed this publicly.

ICE’s adoption of Paragon’s spyware adds to its growing arsenal of surveillance technologies, which already includes tools from companies like Palantir and Babel Street. Privacy advocates warn that this expanding toolkit increases the risk of overreach, especially in the context of ongoing immigration crackdowns and protests. The coming months are likely to see intensified scrutiny from watchdog groups and potentially new legal challenges as details of ICE’s use of the spyware emerge.