TL;DR
Reporting based on internal ICE documents and witness testimony says Palantir has developed an application called ELITE that surfaces potential deportation targets on a map and opens dossiers on individuals. The tool reportedly scores address confidence and highlights areas with concentrations of people ICE might detain, raising civil‑liberties concerns.
What happened
404 Media obtained internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) documents and testimony that link a Palantir-built application, identified as ELITE, to ICE field activity. According to the obtained materials, the interface displays a map overlay that highlights neighborhoods with many potential enforcement targets and lets users click into individual records. Each record reportedly includes identifying details such as name, a photograph, the government-issued Alien Number, date of birth, and a full street address. The system also presents a “confidence score” indicating how certain it is about a person’s current address. The reporting describes the map as visually similar to popular mapping services but designed to surface areas with dense concentrations of immigrants or other people of interest. The author of the piece frames these disclosures as raising ethical and civil‑rights questions and urges reflection on the tool’s implications for enforcement operations.
Why it matters
- Links a major commercial data‑analysis vendor’s product directly to ICE operational planning, per reporting.
- Surface-level mapping and individual dossiers can centralize sensitive personal data in a single operational tool.
- Address confidence scoring and geographic targeting tools may influence where enforcement resources are concentrated.
- The design and use of such tools raise questions about profiling, civil‑liberties impacts, and oversight of automated systems.
Key facts
- 404 Media obtained internal ICE material and testimony that connect Palantir’s work to ICE operations, according to the reporting.
- The application is identified in reporting as ELITE and is described as a map-based interface for identifying potential deportation targets.
- ELITE reportedly populates a map with candidate locations and lets users open dossiers for individual people.
- Dossiers are said to include name, photo, an Alien Number, date of birth, and a full address.
- The tool reportedly provides a ‘confidence score’ for how certain it is that a listed address is current.
- The map visualization is described as showing the ‘richness’ of areas for targets, including layers tied to immigrant density.
- The reporting and commentary were published on 15 January 2026 and reference reporting by Joseph Cox at 404 Media.
What to watch next
- Whether Palantir or ICE issue public statements or clarifications about ELITE and its use — not confirmed in the source.
- Any internal or federal oversight inquiries, audits, or legal challenges prompted by these disclosures — not confirmed in the source.
- The scope and geographic extent of ELITE’s deployment across ICE operations (nationwide vs limited pilots) — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Palantir: A commercial software company that builds data‑analysis and integration platforms for government and private clients.
- ICE: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a federal agency responsible for immigration enforcement and related investigations.
- ELITE: The name used in reporting for a Palantir-built, map-based application described as supporting ICE targeting and individual records review.
- Alien Number: A numeric identifier assigned by U.S. immigration authorities to a noncitizen; used in government records to track immigration cases.
- Confidence score: A quantitative or categorical indicator intended to convey how certain a system is about a particular data point, such as an address.
Reader FAQ
Is the existence of ELITE confirmed?
Reporting says internal ICE materials and testimony link a Palantir-built application termed ELITE to ICE activity.
What information does ELITE reportedly show about people?
According to the reporting, records include name, photo, Alien Number, date of birth, and a full address, plus a confidence score for the address.
Is ELITE being used to plan raids or detentions?
The source reports that ICE has used the tool to find locations where many people it might detain could be based.
Has Palantir responded to these reports?
not confirmed in the source
Are there ongoing investigations or legal actions tied to this reporting?
not confirmed in the source
DEMOCRACY ‘ELITE’: The Palantir App ICE Uses to Find Neighborhoods to Raid "Internal ICE material and testimony from an official obtained by 404 Media provides the clearest link yet between…
Sources
- ‘ELITE’: The Palantir app ICE uses to find neighborhoods to raid
- ICE to Use ImmigrationOS by Palantir, a New AI System …
- ICE Is Using a Terrifying Palantir App to Determine Where …
- Palantir Technologies
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