ICE collected nearly a million DNA samples in the past year, expanding a searchable federal database

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) collected nearly a million DNA samples in the past year, according to a report cited by Schneier on Security. The samples are being added to federal databases used for identification and law enforcement purposes.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, has indicated that its DNA collection efforts are projected to make up 33% of the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) 'Offender' DNA index by 2030. This would represent a significant increase from 2019, when DHS samples accounted for 0.2% of the index. The samples collected by DHS are primarily obtained under civil rather than criminal authority, yet they remain searchable against crime scene samples indefinitely.

A 2025 statement from an ICE legal adviser described the primary purpose of DHS’s DNA collection as building a national DNA database for solving crimes. This characterization has drawn scrutiny, as it suggests a shift in the stated intent of civil-collected genetic data toward broader law enforcement use.

Legal experts have noted that while the Fourth Amendment permits warrantless searches to identify individuals, it does not allow warrantless searches without cause to solve crimes. The indefinite retention and searchability of these samples raise concerns about privacy, consent, and the potential for misuse of genetic data.