The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) deployed the facial recognition app Mobile Fortify to immigration agents without adequate privacy scrutiny. Records show the app, developed by NEC, is not designed for reliable street identification and was launched following an executive order aimed at escalating immigration enforcement. Despite DHS framing it as an identification tool, the app generates leads rather than providing positive identification, a known limitation of facial recognition technology. Privacy reviews were weakened, and department-wide limits on facial recognition were removed, enabling the app’s rapid approval. DHS has used Mobile Fortify to scan citizens and protesters, potentially expanding biometric data collection beyond border crossings with retention periods up to 15 years. The technology’s accuracy is notably lower in uncontrolled field conditions, raising concerns about false positives and civil liberties.