In a significant expansion of its DNA collection program, immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) added nearly 1 million genetic profiles to the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) in 2026. This massive influx of data, which includes profiles from individuals with no criminal history and even young children, has raised serious concerns about privacy and civil liberties.
The program, which began as a border security measure, has evolved into a widespread effort to collect DNA from nearly everyone in ICE custody. This includes asylum seekers, refugees, and even families detained at facilities like the one in Dilley, Texas. The rapid growth of the program has made the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) the largest single source of new genetic profiles in the nation’s criminal DNA system.
From Border Security to Mass Surveillance
A policy change in 2026 turned immigration detention into a pipeline for the FBI’s forensic DNA system. Prior to this change, DHS was largely exempt from mandatory DNA collection due to resource constraints. However, the Justice Department’s removal of this exemption led to ICE Directive 10092.1, which requires DNA collection from nearly everyone in custody.
The result has been a dramatic increase in the number of DNA profiles added to CODIS. In 2026 alone, ICE added approximately 920,000 profiles, bringing the total number of detainee profiles in CODIS to over 3.3 million. This represents a significant expansion of the database, which is primarily used for criminal investigations.
The Children No One Accounted For
Among the nearly 1 million individuals whose DNA was collected in 2026 were 492 children under the age of 14. This includes children as young as four, whose genetic profiles were added to a federal criminal database. The collection of DNA from minors has raised serious ethical and legal questions, as many of these children have not been accused of any crime.
Lawmakers who visited the Dilley family detention center reported that families were often confused about the purpose and handling of the DNA testing. Despite this, the collection continued, with hundreds of young children’s profiles ending up in CODIS. This has compounded concerns about the potential for database leaks and the long-term implications of warrantless collection.
Legal Challenges and Congressional Scrutiny
The expansion of ICE’s DNA collection program has sparked legal challenges and congressional scrutiny. Lawsuits have been filed by protesters and others who allege they should never have been subjected to the program. Additionally, lawmakers have raised questions about the collection of DNA from children and the lack of adequate explanation provided to detained families.
In response to these concerns, a DHS spokesperson defended the DNA collection as a border-security and identification measure. However, the spokesperson did not address estimates that ICE may have added hundreds of thousands of profiles to CODIS in 2026. As the program continues to grow, it remains a contentious issue, with civil liberties researchers and lawmakers calling for greater transparency and accountability.
