Big Tech supports Trump’s anti-immigrant crackdown

Big Tech’s role in enabling Trump’s immigration policies has intensified, with companies like Meta aligning with the administration’s anti-immigrant agenda. A leaked document revealed that Meta removed certain hate speech restrictions ahead of Trump’s inauguration to support his policies. This shift paves the way for the data-driven collaboration between Big Tech and the U.S. government in shaping immigration laws.

Big Tech giants have long provided tools to the U.S. government to monitor immigrants, using data from surveillance systems and private data brokers. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has partnered with companies like Palantir and Amazon to develop predictive tools for targeting immigrants, spending billions on related technologies since 2020. These technologies include ankle monitors and apps that monitor immigrants’ daily activities, often collecting sensitive personal information.

Trump’s second term promises further collaboration, with executive orders aimed at expanding deportations and limiting asylum. These policies are legitimized by hate speech in the public sphere, where Big Tech’s unchecked influence on social media fuels anti-immigrant sentiment, enabling discriminatory policies.

Resistance to these policies requires grassroots action, challenging deportations and disinformation, while supporting sanctuary cities. The struggle lies in reclaiming the power over data and its use to protect immigrants’ rights in an increasingly digital and surveillance-driven world.