U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is preparing to spend up to $2 million on robotic dogs as the agency continues expanding its use of technology during President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign.
According to a Department of Homeland Security funding document posted Thursday, ICE could spend between $1 million and $2 million on Boston Dynamics’ “Spot” robotic dogs and related accessories.
The planned purchase comes just weeks after DHS approved up to $20 million for ICE to acquire electric shock gloves that agents could use to subdue combative suspects during immigration enforcement operations.
A senior DHS official told NBC News that the robots will not be used to make arrests. Instead, ICE’s procurement notice says the machines are intended to provide agents with a remotely operated capability for “inspection, situational awareness, and hazard assessment” in areas that could pose risks to personnel.
“This capability helps improve officer safety, supports informed operational decision-making, and enhances DHS’s ability to respond to incidents involving dangerous, confined, unstable, or difficult-to-access areas,” the notice states. Boston Dynamics’ Spot robots are equipped with cameras and sensors capable of detecting hazards including gas, radiation and vibrations. The machines can also navigate difficult terrain and, depending on their configuration, use an extendable arm to interact with objects.
The robotic dog has already been adopted by other law enforcement agencies. Police departments in Los Angeles and New York have used the technology for various operations, while the U.S. Secret Service deployed Spot robots to help secure President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida in 2024. Boston Dynamics says its robots are not designed to be weapons. The company’s ethics policy states that it will not authorize or partner with customers seeking to use its robots as weapons or autonomous targeting systems.
The increased tech spending corresponds with a sharp increase in violence against ICE agents during the Trump administration’s deportation push. DHS has said assaults against ICE personnel have increased by 1,300%, while vehicular attacks have increased by 3,300%. The new robotic dogs could provide agents with additional security by allowing them to inspect potentially dangerous locations without immediately putting a human officer inside.
The procurement document does not establish a firm timeline for deployment, and the government’s market research process does not necessarily guarantee that ICE will ultimately purchase the robots. But if the purchase moves forward, ICE agents could soon have a growing arsenal of specialized technology designed to help them assess dangerous situations, protect themselves and carry out the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement agenda.
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