ICE chief proposes business-like deportation system inspired by Amazon

Department of Research, Studies and International News 10-04-2025

At a recent security expo in Phoenix, Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Todd Lyons, laid out a controversial vision for the agency’s future operations. Speaking at the 2025 Border Security Expo, Lyons proposed a streamlined, technology-driven approach to immigration enforcement, comparing his ideal system to Amazon Prime, except, as he put it, “with human beings.”

His comments, first reported by the Arizona Mirror, sparked immediate backlash and concern. Lyons stressed his desire to see ICE function more like a private enterprise, suggesting that deportation should follow the efficiency and logistics model of a major corporation. “We have to start approaching this like it’s a business,” he stated, advocating for a fleet of trucks to carry out removals across the country with precision and speed.

The expo, held at the Phoenix Convention Center, served as a platform for several prominent figures from the Trump administration to present their hardline immigration strategies. Alongside Lyons were Trump’s designated “border czar,” Tom Homan, and Kristi Noem, who currently heads the Department of Homeland Security. Each speaker praised the administration’s use of historical legal mechanisms and called for further reliance on privatization and automation.

A particularly contentious topic was the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a long-dormant law originally designed during wartime, which the Trump administration has revived to target immigrants, particularly Venezuelans. Lyons labeled the act “amazing,” while Noem pledged to broaden its application in order to deport immigrants more swiftly. The law was last notably used during World War II to justify the internment of Japanese Americans.

Homan defended the measure, reminding the audience that it remains a statute enacted by Congress and, therefore, fair game for modern enforcement. “We’re using the law that’s already on the books,” he argued. Recent rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court have upheld the administration’s interpretation, allowing continued use of the act to remove individuals suspected of gang affiliation.

The discussion also touched on the use of artificial intelligence in immigration operations. Lyons spoke optimistically about the potential for AI to increase the efficiency of detention centers and facilitate quicker deportations. According to him, smarter algorithms could help “free up bed space” and ensure planes are “fully utilized” when transporting deportees.

Lyons additionally mentioned collaboration with Elon Musk’s initiative known as the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. This partnership, he claimed, could assist ICE in identifying potential voter fraud by analyzing Social Security data.

Throughout the event, speakers emphasized a growing reliance on private sector involvement. Many advocated for outsourcing non-enforcement tasks to contractors while keeping armed ICE officers focused strictly on operations that require a law enforcement presence. “Let the badge and the gun do their job,” said Homan. “Everything else should be contracted out.”

This business-oriented mindset reflects a broader trend in the administration’s approach to immigration, one that merges public policy with corporate efficiency models. Critics argue this philosophy commodifies human lives and undermines the dignity of individuals caught in the crosshairs of immigration enforcement.

Trump’s renewed focus on mass deportation is a cornerstone of his current presidential agenda. In the early weeks of his return to office, reports indicate that more than 1,400 people were detained during or immediately after ICE check-ins, a stark indicator of how aggressively the administration is pursuing its goals.

The presence of numerous defense contractors and representatives from the private security sector at the Border Security Expo underlines the scale of investment being funneled into this model. As enforcement becomes more technologically advanced and privatized, concerns grow about oversight, accountability, and the human cost of transforming immigration policy into a corporate-style operation.

In reimagining ICE as a business entity rather than a federal agency with humanitarian obligations, Lyons and his allies are setting the stage for a controversial and potentially far-reaching transformation in U.S. immigration policy. While supporters hail the proposal as a step toward efficiency and order, critics warn that it risks dehumanizing vulnerable populations in the name of expedience.