US immigration agents will have access to one of the world’s most sophisticated hacking tools after a decision by the Trump administration to move ahead with a contract with Paragon Solutions, a company founded in Israel which makes spyware that can be used to hack into any mobile phone – including encrypted applications.
The Department of Homeland Security first entered into a contract with Paragon, now owned by a US firm, in late 2024, under the Biden administration. But the $2m contract was put on hold pending a compliance review to make sure it adhered to an executive order that restricts the US government’s use of spyware, Wired reported at the time.
That pause has now been lifted, according to public procurement documents, which list US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) as the contracting agency.
Oddly I agree, I’d have voted for either of those opposites as well. Though, I do agree with both of them on some things, and disagree with both of them on others.
Ideally I’d actually have them run together and temper each other’s views a little to land somewhere more reasonable, but no we have to pick from the two of the worst, most self serving people available instead.