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🛂The Tech Arsenal Driving Immigration Enforcement.

Plus: China has Created an “Artificial Sun.

Yaro Celis

Jan 27

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Monday Update Fellow Readers, A lot to unpack today! U.S. military planes carrying undocumented immigrants have been landing in Latin America, creating tensions between the U.S. and local governments, we will dive into the tech arsenal powering this immigration enforcement. Meanwhile, China has developed an artificial sun, capable of meeting the growing energy demands of AI technologies and data centers. Don’t miss our AI Tools and Trends section for more details, and feel free to share your thoughts!!

The Tech Arsenal Driving Immigration Enforcement.
China has Created an “Artificial Sun.
Real Estate’s New Frontier is in Energy & Data Centers.
🧰 AI Tools
📰 News and Trends.

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The Tech Arsenal Driving Immigration Enforcement.

U.S. immigration agencies have built a powerful tech arsenal, now poised to play a central role in the new administration immigration crackdown. Since 2020, nearly $7.8 billion has been spent across 263 companies to develop and implement these technologies. Major players like Palantir, Clearview AI, and Cellebrite have received significant contracts to create the infrastructure for this growing surveillance state. Notably, Palantir alone has secured over $1 billion in contracts, while others like Venntel and Geo Group have seen rapid increases in both government support and investor interest.

NYT - Clearview AI makes facial recognition technology

Originally developed to combat drug trafficking and human smuggling, these tools are now being repurposed for mass deportations and border control.

Among the most impactful technologies are:

GPS Tracking Systems: Roughly 180,000 undocumented immigrants are already monitored through ankle bracelets or apps like SmartLink, which require daily check-ins. These digital surveillance tools could play a central role in future mass deportation efforts.
Biometric Databases: Tools that compare fingerprints and facial scans to criminal records and immigration databases are key to identifying individuals with precision.
Digital Forensics and Data Mining: ICE has invested heavily in tools that can extract deleted phone data, crack passcodes, and analyze massive troves of emails, texts, and other files. These tools are paired with private databases containing personal data, such as addresses, utility records, and vehicle information.

A Cellebrite device that extracts data off mobile devices. - NYT

Critics warn of privacy violations and ethical concerns as technology enables unprecedented surveillance of vulnerable populations. While companies profit and policies shift, the implications of this surveillance infrastructure on civil liberties demand closer scrutiny.

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China has Created an “Artificial Sun.”

China’s EAST fusion reactor, or “artificial sun,” set a record by operating steadily for 17 minutes and 43 seconds, nearly tripling its previous runtime. Designed to replicate the sun’s energy, fusion produces no harmful byproducts and is more powerful than fission, offering the potential for unlimited clean energy once stabilized.

📰 AI News and Trends

Chinese AI Startup DeepSeek Defies U.S. Sanctions to rivals ChatGPT with Breakthrough Model (MIT)
Experts Weigh in on $500B Stargate Project for AI (ieee)
Despite tensions, U.S.-China AI research collaborations are alive and well (RofTW)
What happens when we can’t just build bigger AI datacenters anymore? (TheRegister)
Here are Apple’s two main priorities for AI this year, per leaked memo (9to5)

🌐 Other Tech news

Trump administration reportedly negotiating an Oracle takeover of TikTok (TC)
What’s Next for Robots in 2025? (TechReview)
TRUMP Token Frenzy Propels Solana Stablecoin Supply to $10B, Sparks Record DEX Volumes and 20% SOL Surge (CD) but in reality these meme coins are damaging the crypto industry.
Meta, TikTok Set for EU Stress Test Before German Elections (Bloomberg)
Vietnam’s military-run postal service is building robots to deliver on the country’s e-commerce boom (RofTW)

Real Estate’s New Frontier is in Energy & Data Centers.

As data center demand soars, real estate firms are stepping into energy development. Brendan Wallace of Fifth Wall Ventures shares key insights:

Wildfires & Insurance: California’s wildfires have caused an insurance crisis, creating opportunities for innovation in rebuilding and coverage.
Proptech’s Rebound: Despite setbacks (like WeWork), proptech is bouncing back, with a focus on asset resilience and data centers—now real estate’s hottest asset class.
Energy Challenge: Data centers’ massive energy needs are pushing real estate firms to develop renewable energy solutions, particularly solar.
Smarter Rebuilding: Innovations like 3D-printed homes and fire-resistant materials are shaping post-disaster reconstruction.
Wallace sees a bright future: “Spring has sprung for proptech,” with the industry adapting to meet tomorrow’s challenges.

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