ICE agents reportedly using LexisNexis data to find deportation targets

Tech reporter Allie Garfinkle details how ICE agents are using their contract with LexisNexis to find potential deportation targets.

Video Transcript

RACHELLE AKUFFO: Well, shifting gears now, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a.k.a. ICE, is reportedly using data brokers like LexisNexis and Reuters to skirt sanctuary protections, allowing them to find people targeted for deportation. Well, Yahoo Finance's Allie Garfinkle is here with more on this story. So Allie, what do we need to know about how extensively ICE has used data brokers like LexisNexis, and have there been consequences?

ALLIE GARFINKLE: Great to see you, Rachelle. So a couple of things off the cuff. First things first, we do know that ICE agents are absolutely using data brokers like LexisNexis. Some advocates I spoke to actually say that over a seven-month period, we know that ICE agents use LexisNexis about 1.2 million times, and this includes people who work in deportation. So on some level, it makes sense. ICE actually has a $22 million contract with LexisNexis.

Important to say, ICE isn't breaking the law as far as I can tell. But there are a lot of consequences here, Rachelle. At first, even though sanctuary city policies are, in many cases, informal, ICE-- there's a question about whether ICE is actually skirting the spirit of the thing. There's a lot of moral and logistical gray area they're operating in. What obligation does ICE have to honor the wishes of a given city? So there's kind of a lot going on. And we actually do know that there have absolutely been consequences so far, Rachelle.

AKIKO FUJITA: So, Allie, I mean, how are cities responding? What specific steps have they taken?

ALLIE GARFINKLE: It's a great question, Akiko. So actually, a couple of weeks ago, we had the very first hearing about this that was in a city. The Cook County Board of Commissioners in Chicago held a hearing on the issue. And one of the officials I spoke to who presided over that hearing says she's hoping that it's just the first, and there will be more.

Kind of long-term, the thing I would say is the conversation has started moving forward on a governmental level. There are a lot of sanctuary cities in the US, including Los Angeles. So we're expecting-- where I live. So we're expecting to maybe see further conversation. LexisNexis hasn't returned my request for comment on this story, but it's definitely one to watch, Akiko.

AKIKO FUJITA: OK, Allie Garfinkle bringing us that story. You can read all about it on YahooFinance.com as well.