Persecution of migrants: special services illegally tapped phones

The Immigration Service uses controversial devices to track immigrants, writes journalist Dan King for publication Observer. Particularly alarming is the use by the security forces of the “cell site simulator” technology, or Stingray. Previously, this method was used during the investigation of large criminal cases, but there was no knowledge of cases when this technology was used to search for illegal migrants. So it was until recently.

Stingray works in the following way: devices are installed on spy planes that allow people to be tracked by their IMEI mobile phone numbers - even if they do not make calls. These devices imitate the work of cell phone towers and remove certain information about subscribers from their phones. Some more sophisticated devices allow cops to eavesdrop on conversations and record them.

Initially, this technology was introduced under the pretext of improving the fight against terrorism. However, as reported by the human rights organization Electronic Frontier Foundation, there are cases when people who have nothing to do with terrorism were tracked. For example, in the state of Maryland, this technology was used to search for a suspect who stole food worth $ 60.

In March, 2017, a scandal occurred when immigration officers tracked a mobile phone signal to deport an illegal migrant from El Salvador. This is the first known case of applying such measures specifically for deportation of a person living in the United States illegally. According to court documents, Rudi Karkamo-Carranza, a native of El Salvador, used a fake green card to get a job at a steak restaurant. Kruse and Muer in Troy (MI). He was already deported in 2015 year.

9 March A Michigan State judge authorized an immigration agent to use a tool to track Karkamo-Carranza’s phone. So they were able to read the immigrant's personal correspondence. Facebook. The circumstances that led the FBI and the ICE to the prosecution of the twice deported Karkamo-Carranza are very vague. According to the warrant for his arrest, he was prosecuted on charges of immigration crimes. The agent involved in this case, Jeremy R. McCullough, commenting on the warrant, mentioned that he was working in the Violent Crimes Investigation Division, but there was no mention of violent actions from Karkamo-Carranza.

While the federal law enforcement authorities are pursuing Karkamo-Carranza, the use of Stingrays, because with its help information is collected from a much larger number of phones than necessary. If the FBI and ICE plan to continue using this tool to track immigrants, this will affect many Americans who, in turn, are unaware of anything. There were no official statements from ICE that they would use more Stingraysbut it seems like they are planning.

ICE spokesperson reported The Detroit Newsthat system Stingrays is “invaluable” for national security operations, adding that ICE officials “use a wide range of legitimate investigative techniques to apprehend criminal suspects.” Such vague answers do not shed light on the question of further use. Stingrays applied to immigrants.

In February, a bill called the Privacy Act for the Location of the 2017 Mobile Device of the Year was introduced by Congressman Jason Chaffetz. If it is accepted, the bill will prohibit the use of cellular node simulators, unless a warrant is received, an emergency is declared or surveillance is carried out in accordance with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. This bill still gives federal law enforcement officials too much leeway to prosecute immigrants if they can get a warrant or provoke an “emergency”, for example, to determine that there is an “immediate danger of death”.

If the Trump administration plans to use this tool for its own purposes to rid the country of illegal migrants, law-abiding migrants and Native Americans will be in danger of overhearing their private conversations and under constant surveillance, and this violates the fourth amendment of the US Constitution.

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