Introduction
In 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) collected DNA from nearly one million individuals in the United States, including children. This massive collection, feeding into the FBI's criminal database, raises significant concerns about the civil rights and privacy of those involved. Acting under the Department of Homeland Security, ICE has become the most prolific source of new genetic profiles in the U.S. criminal system.
The Scale of DNA Collection
According to Georgetown Law's Center on Privacy and Technology, ICE added approximately 920,000 new profiles in 2025, a staggering increase compared to previous years. This figure represents a significant portion of the new additions to the FBI's Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), a system initially designed for criminal investigations. Yet, the majority of individuals detained by ICE have no criminal conviction, their detention primarily related to civil immigration offenses.
The Case of Hugo Moreno-Mendez
A notable example is Hugo Moreno-Mendez, arrested during a probation check-in in Waco, Texas, in March 2025. Moreno-Mendez refused to provide a DNA sample, leading to charges for failing to register as a non-citizen and refusing to provide DNA—a misdemeanor rarely prosecuted before. His case highlights the intense pressure on detainees to comply with this collection.
Ethical and Legal Implications
Recording DNA profiles from individuals without criminal convictions raises major ethical concerns. Civil rights experts fear this practice could become a tool for mass surveillance, where genetic data is used beyond its initial intent. The presence of data in CODIS allows law enforcement to match these profiles with evidence from unsolved criminal investigations, potentially leading to unintended implications for innocent individuals.
Impact on Children and Families
DNA collection is not limited to adults. Children accompanying their families are also subject to this process. This inclusion raises additional questions about parental consent and minors' rights, potentially transforming children into unintended targets of the criminal justice system.
Privacy Concerns
Privacy advocates point out that large-scale DNA data collection and storage represent a significant intrusion into individuals' private lives. Once recorded in CODIS, this information remains indefinitely accessible to law enforcement without guaranteed deletion, even in cases of error or non-conviction.
Conclusion
ICE's practice of large-scale DNA profile collection, including those of young children, raises crucial questions about balancing public safety and individual rights. As technology continues to evolve, it is imperative to reassess these practices to ensure they respect fundamental rights and privacy.
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