New contracts reveal U.S. immigration agency is expanding use of surveillance vans equipped with fake cellphone towers
ICE Expands Use of Covert Phone Tracking Technology
In 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) paid $825,000 to acquire vehicles equipped with cell-site simulators—devices that mimic cellphone towers to spy on nearby phones.
- The contract, dated May 8, was awarded to TechOps Specialty Vehicles (TOSV), a Maryland-based firm that builds surveillance and specialty vehicles for law enforcement.
- This marks the second known contract between ICE and TOSV, with a previous deal signed in September 2024 for $818,000.
According to public records, the vehicles are part of ICE’s Homeland Security Technical Operations and are described as “CSS Vehicles” — short for Cell Site Simulator.
How Cell-Site Simulators Work — and Why They’re Controversial
Often referred to as “stingrays” or IMSI catchers, these devices trick phones in the area into connecting by pretending to be legitimate cellphone towers.
- Once connected, authorities can track the location of a phone — sometimes with greater precision than from carrier data.
- Advanced versions of these devices can intercept calls, texts, and internet traffic.
The controversy stems from the fact that everyone’s phone within range connects, not just the suspect’s — raising serious privacy and constitutional concerns.
“The weak legal oversight and widespread data collection make stingrays a form of mass surveillance by default,” privacy advocates argue.
Lack of Transparency Fuels Public Concern
Despite the surveillance implications, ICE did not respond to key questions from TechCrunch about:
- Whether it obtains warrants before using these tools
- Where or how often these vans are deployed
- What specific technologies are included in the vehicles
While TOSV president Jon Brianas confirmed the company integrates cell-site simulators into vehicles, he declined to disclose where the devices are sourced from, citing “trade secrets.”
Brianas added:
“We don’t manufacture electrical, comms, and technology components. We integrate that product into our overall design.”
An Ongoing Practice — and a Growing Investment
ICE has a documented history of using this tech:
- 2013–2017: ICE used cell-site simulators 1,885 times, per documents obtained by BuzzFeed News.
- 2017–2019: Another 466 deployments were revealed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
- In September 2025, a Forbes report detailed ICE using one such device to track a criminal gang suspect ordered for deportation — confirming real-world deployment.
This year’s new vehicle contracts suggest a renewed investment in mobile phone surveillance under the Trump administration.
The Role of TechOps Specialty Vehicles
TOSV builds custom vehicles for various law enforcement and federal agencies, including:
- SWAT and bomb squad vans
- Mobile forensic labs for on-site evidence processing
- Surveillance command vans for real-time mission coordination
- Even bookmobiles and emergency response units for fire and medical teams
While TOSV does not publicly advertise cell-site simulators on its website, several vehicle listings — like “Mobile Command Vans” and “Mobile Forensic Labs” — suggest surveillance capabilities.
Legal Oversight and Secrecy Still Lacking
Cell-site simulators are often shielded by non-disclosure agreements with manufacturers and law enforcement agencies. Critics argue this secrecy:
- Prevents public scrutiny
- Makes it unclear whether agencies follow due process, like obtaining judicial warrants
- Allows agencies to mask surveillance under broader homeland security mandates
A Widening Federal Trend
ICE is not alone in using this surveillance technology. Over the past decade:
- FBI, DEA, U.S. Marshals, and even local police departments have deployed stingray-type devices.
- Courts have ruled inconsistently on whether a warrant is required, creating a gray area in digital rights.
Privacy experts continue to urge Congress to mandate clear oversight and warrant requirements for all uses of cell-site simulators.
