ICE is using a smartphone app called “Mobile Fortify” to scan faces and capture contactless fingerprints, instantly pulling back names and biographical data — and court filings say the same encounters are being followed by revocations of Global Entry and TSA PreCheck.
That turns “trusted traveler” into chilling of speech. DHS runs both the surveillance and the program, and being “under investigation” can be enough to lose your status even if protesting itself cannot legally be a disqualifier.
The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement is expanding use of identificationand tracking – not just immigration targets but also on U.S. citizens who are documenting, protesting, and observing enforcement operations. And participating in these events is getting Global Entry yanked.
The government is using a smartphone app called “Mobile Fortify” that lets agents scan a face and even capture ‘contactless’ fingerprints and run them through biometric matching systems to return names and biographical data. Reportedly the agency has used Mobile Fortify over 100,000 times. They use BI2 Technologies for smartphone iris scanning against a large law enforcement iris database. The agency defends this all as “lawful.”
In addition, ICE uses license plate reader data, commercial phone location data, drones, and other tools to monitor protests by U.S. citizens.
Global Entry is administered by the Department of Homeland Security, its data was used to train Mobile Fortify, and citizens in the program are subject to having the status revoked if they’re being investigated. DHS investigates people protesting DHS.
- Customs and Border Protection can deem you ineligible “at its sole discretion” if you present a potential risk for terrorism, criminality, or are otherwise no longer considered low risk. It bases risk determinations partly on demonstrated compliance.
- They can kick yo uout for arrests or being the subject of an investigation by any law enforcement agency, or suspect conduct that is ‘terrorism-related’.
Protesting isn’t a listed or ‘valid’ reason for having Global Entry revoked, but being arrested at a protest is. Impeding or interfering with the agency is. And being investigated is.
In a court filing, Nicole Cleland says she observing ICE activities in her neighborhood when an agent approached her vehicle, addressed her by name, said they had “facial recognition” and warned she was “impeding” and could be arrested if it happened again. Three days later, she received email notice her Global Entry and TSA PreCheck status was revoked.
Homeland Security does continuous checks on Global Entry members, and may uncover a past conviction that wasn’t disclosed during the application (generally minor offenses over 10 years old, such as a DUI, are fine if you disclose them) or a new conviction. Breaking program rules or rules in the immigration hall such as failing to declare items or bringing ineligible family members with you into the Global Entry queues can get you kicked out if the customs officer decides to make an issue of it.
You can lose Global Entry for complaining about a customs officer. Putting an apple from your flight in your bag, and then not declaring it can cost you your Global Entry. So can attempting a coup against the United States.
So, too, now it seems just for protesting against government policy. And that has a huge chilling effect on public dissent. If you’re punished for expressing views contrary to those in power, you’ll be less likely to express those views. It’ll then appear to others that there’s a consensus supporting those in power, making it harder for still others to dissent. That’s what you get in authoritarian regimes – preference falsification, where everyone publicly tows the dominant line and is unwilling to reveal their true beliefs.
While more people are being kicked out of Global Entry than ever before, 39% of people who appeal the revocation win. Plus, DHS decisions on Global Entry are subject to judicial review, at least in the ninth circuit.
Used to be a free country. Police states have fallen in the past. It may take generations, but this regime won’t last forever
Elect nazis? expect the gestapo….
step by step, inch by inch, I see my rights being pummeled. never thought I’d experience it in this country.
What’s the problem? There are conditions in which GE and PreCheck can be revoke. You agree to that. How this any different than when the cops run your information for outstanding warrants when you get pulled over for a traffic stop? Don’t want to lose your GE and/or PreCheck? Know what’s prohibited and simply don’t do it. But again, requiring people to be accountable for their actions is being a “Nazi.” Maybe one reason I’ve never been arrested in nearly 67 years is that I don’t do things to get arrested.
I returned from an international trip in May 2025. I was stunned LAX customs agents didn’t look at my passport. There was some technology that automatically awarded me a green check mark and an opened gate. I was granted entrance into America’s lap of luxury.
I suspect same technology powers Mobile Fortify.
@George Romey — What happened? I thought you didn’t want to live in a police state. Don’t worry, the leopards won’t eat YOUR face. You’re ‘one of the good ones,’ right? Fall in line and it’ll be fine. Yeah.
We all know better and should reject these apparent abuses of power by this administration. They are the ones needing to be held accountable. Neither billionaires, corporate-owned media, the courts, or Congress, won’t save us. The American people will need to push back, and they are.
George Romey since when is protesting (something constitutionally protected) a criminal act.
“Maybe one reason I’ve never been arrested in nearly 67 years is that I don’t do things to get arrested.”
Yeah exactly but we aren’t talking about being arrested merely engaging in protest of the government something protected by the first amendment. See the difference?
Since you are a simpleton to use an analogy even you could understand imagine if the Biden administration revoked GE and precheck for anyone flying a Trump flag and then someone even more dimwitted than you said “hey just don’t fly a flag if you don’t want to lose this”.
@Disgruntled American — Do you have Global, or did you use a Mobile passport app/gate? If so, yeah, biometrics already in-place. Now, if this administration decides to weaponize that, and, say, determine that ‘registered Democrats’ are ‘vermin’ or ‘enemies within’ or ‘domestic terr…’ *sigh*
@1990
Malta is looking even better every day. And I have EU 261 as well.
People have been supporters of such technology because it is quicker. They failed to read the fine print and between the lines.
anyone that thinks this all got developed over the past year or that this will go away with a change in party is truly naive.
I don’t believe any self-reporting on this issue. Everyone slants events in their favor. An observer might be observing or might be interfering. An ICE or DHS employee might be acting correctly or might be a bad actor.
You won’t get a straight story from anyone. Not from media reports on any side either. We all want to believe the reports that agree with our biases. Resist that tendency if you can.
you don’t give up your Constitutional Rights & Protections, like free speech & freedom of assembly to receive government benefits like global entry
boarding area bloggers should step up to stop this unconstitutional actions
RESIST FASCISM!
@AlanZ — I still think very fondly of my visit to the island; thoroughly enjoyed taking the ferry to Gozo, too. However, the US needs its actual patriots to remain, fight back, and ensure a better tomorrow. No fleeing.
@Tim Dunn — Interesting point: “change in party”… exactly, so, maybe we shouldn’t be cheering-on abuses of this or other technology, because the hats can change quickly, no? Or is only one party required to be honorable? Re-educate us, oh wise Delta-boy.
Good,
Helping invaders makes a you a traitor.
@Rick
Nazis were lefties.
@BillnDC
Actions have consequences.
FAFO. Lefties are realizing you can’t commit crimes and get away with it
@AlanZ
Bye
@FlyGuy
Protesting doesn’t include obstruction of federal agents.
Another day, another abuse by this administration.
Walter, this is your nurse. Get off the computer and come take your afternoon medication before you end up naked in the middle of the freeway again.
Not a problem. It is fine to protest by standing on public property (or private property you are allowed to use) and holding signs. However, when you start interfering in law enforcement actions, whether you agree with them or not, by warning away targets, targeting law enforcement officers with violence, blocking access to law enforcement, blocking traffic, etc you are no longer simply invoking your rights to protest. Anyone that takes those actions should be stripped of “trusted traveler” status since you can no longer be trusted to act in a civil manner and support the laws of the United States
So the “court filing” was filed by someone who claims their protest activities caused them to lose global entry and precheck. It wasn’t filed by (A) the US government or (B) the judge.
Why is this credible in any way? I can file a paper in court claiming that UFOs run the government, so Trump should be removed from office. Doesn’t mean that UFOs actually run the government–the fact that this was claimed in a court filing doesn’t lend credibility to the allegation in any way.
Doesn’t mean what she said isn’t true, but does mean that the fact that it was made in a court filing doesn’t affect whether it’s credible.
One way to lose Global Entry is if a relative gets into trouble with customs so one could argue that that isn’t fair.
Yelling, pushing, breaking taillamps, and protesting are ineffective ways to dight icE. If you don’t like ice then pay a legal defense fund for illegal aliens or be their lawyer
Maybe even posting a coment about this will get it revoked. Oh well ours was already mystriously revoked recently and believe it was retalitory for speaking out about injustices in our local comunity. That had nothing to do with ICE. Happen the next day after publicly speaking out. All true based on facts. As Janis Jopin would say Freedom is just another word for nothing left to loose. Authoritarianism is hear, soon everyone will know just like the people in past great countries that are no longer in existance.
39% who appeal win = 61% lose
@Walter Barry — You should probably listen to your nurse, bucko.
@derek — Nearly all protestors are peaceful; recall, right to assembly and petition government are each protected rights by the 1st Amendment of the Constitution, lest you forget. Which, hold on a moment, aren’t you that Canadian who hates Canada? What’r you doing on here talking about this?
George Romey – WRONG. Peacefully protesting government action and legally recording the activities of law enforcement is not one of the documented conditions in which GE and PreCheck can be revoked. If you truly believe it is appropriate for people to have these privileges revoked for legally exercising their rights, I wonder how you’d feel about a Democratic administration doing it to you.
Tim Dunn – More implied whataboutism – classic Russian disinformation technique. Actions like this, and on this scale, were not occurring under prior administrations like Biden, Obama, and Bush. You ought to know that.
A true test of character is what you do with power when you have it. This administration has failed that test over and over again. There are always consequences for behaving this way in one way or another – even “getting away with it” entails its own cost.
Liars and gaslighters. George, Walter, all of them.
Nazis were “lefties.” No, Nazis were murderous xenophobes hellbent on “purifying” their country. Sounds familiar to me. Tell me, Walter, supporters of which political party marched through Charlottesville in 2022 screaming “Jews will not replace us?” Lefties my ass.
Violating the first amendment rights of protesters and journalists IS ACTUALLY ILLEGAL.
The people who worried about how much we should trust the government with our personal data has been proven right.
And I’ll remind you, Walter, George and other bottom feeding trolls, the day till come when America regains its sanity…much like Nazi Germany did. When it does, your day will come. Everything you have unleashed and praised will get turned right back on you. We’ll see how you feel then.
@George Romey, @derek, @Retired Gambler, @Walter Barry – I think I got most of you. Good, common sense answers. Constitutionally grounded. Protesting a policy is legal, impeding law enforcement is a crime. I hope the current administration is tougher and actually charges and prosecutes these paid protesters. A felony will disqualify them from voting (or allow their names to be used by Democrats).
For the rest of you, start a Go Fund Me for these illegal invaders defense funds. Put your money where your position is.
Through both Global Entry and Enhanced Passenger Processing (EPP), biometric information is collected.
One solution to protect your rights as a U.S. citizen/passport holder though you may be eligible to use one (or both) is to opt out of those screening options when returning through a U.S. Port of Entry.
Your processing time may increase. But if the concern for privacy & rights is of paramount importance, just inform the CBP officer as you’re reentering that you wish to opt out
@Parker – your unhinged comments are typical of lefties. Name calling, comparisons to nazi Germany. Why can’t you support your ideas with logic and not threats?
@Michael Mainello — Mediocre.
@1990 – Yes, your answer is mediocre, which is a slight improvement.