Skip to content
Congress·In Committee·about 1 month ago

Congress Proposes Ban on Private Companies Tracking and Locating Immigrants for Profit

Also known as: No Private Bounty Hunters for Immigration Enforcement Act

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
House
Senate
President

Impacts

Positive Impacts(4)
Immigrant
Helps

Stops private companies from tracking and surveilling immigrants for profit, reducing invasive bounty-style enforcement.

Undocumented
Helps

Bans private contractors from using personal data to locate undocumented individuals, and ends per-person bounty payments.

Visa Holder
Helps

Visa holders subject to civil immigration cases would no longer be tracked by private surveillance contractors.

Green Card
Helps

Green card holders facing civil immigration issues gain protection from private company tracking and surveillance.

Key Points

  • This bill, introduced by Representative Krishnamoorthi, would stop the Department of Homeland Security from hiring private companies to track down or watch people for immigration cases. It specifically bans 'skip tracing,' which is when companies use social media, work history, or personal data to find someone's location.
  • The proposal would force the government to cancel any current contracts that involve private companies doing surveillance or location checks for immigration enforcement. It also prevents these companies from hiring other smaller companies to do the work instead.
  • The bill bans the government from paying private companies 'bounties' or bonuses for every person they find who is wanted for an immigration violation. This is meant to stop companies from making more money based on how many people they help the government locate.
  • Private companies could still provide basic data tools for the government to manage its own records, as long as those companies aren't doing the actual field work or making personal contact with people.
  • If passed, the Department of Homeland Security's watchdog would have 30 days to check all existing contracts to make sure they follow these new rules.
ImmigrationData PrivacyCriminal Justice

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Jan 20, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Jan 20, 2026

Introduced in House

Related News

6 articles
New York Times·about 1 month ago

ICE launches nationwide program for covert surveillance of immigrants

Reports on ICE's new 'Skip Tracing Services' program using private contractors to locate immigrants for bonuses. Specifically mentions Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi's introduction of a bill to ban these contracts, quoting his concerns about 'for-profit, armed private bounty hunters.'

CL=
Bloomberg Government·17 days ago

Trump’s ICE Facility Surge Raises Transparency, Scrutiny Issues

Details the Trump administration's rapid expansion of immigration detention through private contracts and warehouse acquisitions. Highlights the lack of transparency and the increasing reliance on private entities for core enforcement and detention functions.

CL=
PBS News·about 1 month ago

Department of Homeland Security intensifies surveillance in immigration raids, sweeping in citizens

Covers the expansion of DHS surveillance tools through private tech partnerships with companies like Palantir and Flock Safety. Discusses the civil liberties risks of using for-profit data brokers and surveillance contractors to identify and track individuals.

CL=

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

No Private Bounty Hunters for Immigration Enforcement Act

Bill NumberHR 7161
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(3)
D: 3

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.