The complex nature of immigration law enforcement demands seamless collaboration among federal agencies, yet current operations are hampered by siloed systems and manual processes that impede information sharing. The consequences are more than operational inefficiencies—they touch human lives and national security.
Bridging information gaps across the border enforcement immigration continuum – from initial encounter to final disposition – requires a strategic realignment of manpower, technology, and processes. Federal agencies can deploy innovative yet practical solutions to achieve greater operational readiness and more humanitarian enforcement.
A mission vulnerability
Agencies supporting immigration and border security rely on disconnected systems and tend to hold their information close to the vest. A key challenge is not technical compatibility but rather administrative and cultural barriers that restrict access. Critical data like entry records, citizenship information, and enforcement activities can reside in the same databases, but remain walled off. The result? Manual searches in multiple systems, time-consuming cross-references, fragmented data, and missed opportunities to act on real-time intelligence.
The lack of interoperability and shared access to information doesn’t just hinder efficiency; it can have serious safety consequences. High-risk individuals can be inadvertently released due to a lack of visibility into ongoing investigations by other agencies. Individuals who have been deported and attempt to reenter the country can evade detection more easily in a fragmented system. Recognizing patterns of human trafficking and exploitation becomes more difficult.
Without a single authoritative source of truth authorities can miss red flags, such as multiple unaccompanied minors assigned to the same sponsor under different aliases. Undocumented immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees don’t always have access to legal protections, resources, or a support system, which leaves them vulnerable to exploitation by bad actors. This is the harsh reality, not only in the U.S., but across the world. However, our country has an opportunity to set the global standard for immigration security.
An interoperable database would make key records such as visa overstays, criminal histories, and travel patterns accessible in real time. Using artificial intelligence (AI), agencies could easily cross-reference information to verify relationships and find inconsistencies in documents to detect fraudulent or criminal activity, proactively identify potential threats, optimize resource allocation, and prioritize cases based on urgency.
Limited data sharing, coupled with the U.S. Border Patrol workforce decline from a peak of 21,400 agents in 2011 to approximately 19,500 today, erodes valuable institutional knowledge. Despite aggressive recruitment efforts, agents are stretched thin between field operations and administrative duties. The departure of experienced agents and the strain on remaining personnel disrupts the continuity of key operational expertise. Technology, particularly AI, offers a powerful solution. It can analyze historical data collected over the years, such as patterns of illegal crossings, smuggling techniques, or geographic vulnerabilities, to ensure that valuable knowledge is preserved, organized, and accessible to inform operational decisions and train new agents.
A single source of truth
The information-sharing barriers — while significant — are not insurmountable. New leadership in key positions and a renewed focus on border security at the policy level create new momentum for the modern integration of systems and processes.
A comprehensive digital transformation would revolutionize how agencies track and manage immigration cases. In an age where everyone has access to smartphones, a secure mobile application could become a digital information hub that maps every individual’s interaction and progress throughout their immigration journey, whether they are applying through legal channels or being apprehended at the border. This application would connect securely with each relevant agency’s systems, enabling real-time status updates and automated notifications.
For instance, users could verify critical information, such as receiving a social security card or changing their address, directly within the app. This would reduce manual errors and duplicative data entry, establishing a single, reliable source of truth for all stakeholders.
Such a solution has been successfully implemented in other sectors requiring high security and complex multi-agency coordination. The system could be particularly valuable for monitoring individuals in Alternatives to Detention or similar programs, integrating with existing tracking technologies while providing a more comprehensive view of each case. It could also help identify patterns that might indicate security concerns or humanitarian issues. From an operational perspective, this digital framework would need to accommodate varying levels of access and security clearance so each agency can maintain control over its sensitive data. The key is creating a system that empowers individuals to be actively involved while giving the government the oversight and security it needs to uphold program integrity.
Practical considerations
Effective implementation of a secure information network for immigration enforcement hinges on several critical factors, starting with data integrity. Current systems suffer from inconsistencies, as each agency maintains its data standards and acceptable error margins, which leads to discrepancies. Even minor variations, such as a misplaced period, can create duplicate records or prevent data retrieval. A unified approach with real-time validation is essential to address this foundational data challenge.
Furthermore, security and access control are paramount, given the sensitive nature of law enforcement operations and insider threat risks. Modern systems offer robust safeguards that exceed the security of siloed approaches. Comprehensive audit trails that log every query with user and case details enhance accountability and enable retrospective review. This allows for verification of legitimate access and helps maintain investigative integrity.
Information access doesn’t need to be completely sealed off for agencies to maintain control over their sensitive operations; it can be compartmentalized. For example, one agency could be notified that a target is of interest to another agency without compromising the details of ongoing investigations. With proper checks and balances built into the system architecture, agencies can confidently share information without jeopardizing operational security.
The technology and expertise needed to transform immigration enforcement through connected operations exist today. The private sector has developed sophisticated, cloud-based information-sharing platforms that could be adapted for government use.
Lessons learned
The Department of Homeland Security and its component agencies are exploring the potential implementation of a unified data interface to enhance information sharing and operational coordination. This initiative builds on lessons from past system integration efforts, such as the ENFORCE platform used in the late 1990s. While ENFORCE initially improved operational efficiency, it became a source of frustration due to its inflexible update process that required agencies to plan 18 to 24 months in advance and battle over conflicting priorities. It ultimately rendered the system ineffective. Despite these historical challenges, agency leaders are optimistic about the prospect of a single operating platform that breaks down agency silos and accommodates specific mission requirements while upholding essential security protocols.
The Department of Justice’s Special Operations Division (SOD) provides a proven blueprint for effective interagency collaboration. SOD serves as a hub for operational coordination and intelligence sharing, bringing together personnel from federal law enforcement, foreign agencies, and the intelligence community to combat transnational criminal organizations. The physical co-location of representatives from these diverse agencies within the SOD office fosters an environment that naturally facilitates joint effort. This approach has been instrumental in the successful execution of complex, multinational operations, such as synchronized enforcement efforts across multiple U.S. and international locations to dismantle a major transnational criminal organization.