Borders

Borders between the global north and south are fortified and militarized to secure the movement of wealth and goods while limiting the movement of poor immigrants and refugees. These borders can correspond to national borders, and they can also divide areas according to ethnic, racial, or religious lines. At times, these borders cut through ancestral lands, nature reserves, take over resources, isolate and strangle occupied peoples. The fortification of these borders is never-ending, using ever-growing physical barriers, armed presence, and technological surveillance and monitoring. The border and surveillance industries have been similarly growing, with the development of "virtual" borders and mass surveillance technologies.

The Borders section focuses on the main companies involved in all aspects of border militarization and the criminalization of immigration. It is organized in the following sub-sections and categories:

 

The full list
Select private companies are listed below publicly-traded companies.
(!) symbol means this company is on our divestment list
Publicly-Traded Companies
Ireland

An Irish management, consulting, and outsourcing firm that provides technical and planning support to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

A military contractor that makes small drones used to surveil the US-Mexico border.

A US air cargo and transportation company, which operates charter deportation flights for the US government

A Dutch multinational military and aerospace company whose helicopters are used to monitor the US-Mexico border.

One of the world’s largest IT companies. Its subsidiary Google provides software and cloud services to US immigration authorities as well as the Israeli government and military and discriminates against Palestinians.

The world’s largest online retailer and cloud storage provider. It’s the largest provider of cloud computing for US immigration authorities as well as the Israeli government and military, and also supports prison and police surveillance.

A US-based provider of food service, facility management services, and uniforms globally. Provides food and other logistical services to prisons and immigration detention facilities and uses forced prison labor.

USA

A US telecommunications company that provides communications services to US immigration authorities

USA

A software company that provides US immigration authorities with software that collects and manages biometric data.

A US manufacturer of tasers, body and car cameras, drones, and accompanying software that provides these products to US immigration authorities, prisons, and law enforcement agencies.

One of the largest banks in the world. It has been one of the main financial backers of private prison companies. In 2019, it announced that it would no longer extend funding to these companies; however, it is unclear whether it has upheld this commitment. The bank is also one of the funders of Atlanta's Cop City.

One of the largest banks in the world. It has been one of the main financial backers of private prison companies. In 2019, it announced that it would no longer extend funding to these companies; however, it is unclear whether it has upheld this commitment.

A US-based producer of high-end computing and industrial products that provides Mobile Video Surveillance Systems (MVSS) for monitoring the US-Mexico border.

France

One of the largest banks in the world. It has been one of the main financial backers of private prison company GEO Group. In 2019, it announced that it would no longer extend funding to the company; however, it is unclear whether it has upheld this commitment.

A US government IT contractor, which developed cloud analytics services for US immigration authorities to track and target immigrants.

A government contractor that provides computer and IT services to US immigration authorities and other federal agencies

The owner of Safariland and Defense Technology, the largest US manufacturer of tear gas weapons for law enforcement. Its chemical and other crowd-control weapons are used by US border patrol, prison authorities, and police departments across the US and around the world against civilian protesters.

France

A French IT and engineering firm, which helps US immigration authorities optimize their incarceration and deportations

An Israeli digital intelligence firm that supplies law enforcement agencies, prison authorities, border security agencies, and repressive regimes around the world with hacking technologies.

A US-based producer of surveillance tools that provides video management systems for monitoring prisons, jails, and the US-Mexico border.

A US-based retail and commercial banking company. Its subsidiary Citizens Bank has been one of the main financial backers of private prison company CoreCivic.

A manufacturer of firearms and ammunition for military, law enforcement, and commercial markets in the U.S., Israel, and around the world.

The world’s largest private prison company. It owns and operates prisons and jails, including immigration jails and “community corrections” centers, and uses forced prison labor. It also provides e-carceration technologies, transportation, and other services as part of the criminal punishment system.

A US-based manufacturer of agricultural and construction machinery, which provides all-terrain vehicles to US Border Patrol

Israel's largest weapons manufacturer. Its weapons are routinely used in war crimes against Palestinian civilians and its surveillance systems are used in Palestine and along the U.S.–Mexico border.

A US-based credit reporting agency and data broker that provides US immigration authorities with information that enables them to locate people targeted for deportation.

A Canadian insurance and investment holding company. Its subsidiary Crum & Forster is the largest bail insurance company in the US.

A US-based bank holding and financial services company. It has been one of the main financial backers of private prison companies CoreCivic and GEO Group. In 2019, it announced that it would stop financing companies that manage private prisons and immigrant detention centers. As of 2023, CoreCivic's and GEO Group's credit agreements do not disclose the financial institutions involved.

A US-based bank holding and financial services company. It has been one of the main financial backers of private prison company CoreCivic.

A US-based vehicle manufacturer that provides commercial and specialized vehicles to US law enforcement and immigration authorities and to Israeli occupation authorities

The world's fifth–largest military company. It manufactures weapons used by the Israeli military against Palestinian civilians and surveillance technology which is used to monitor the U.S.-Mexico border and surveil immigrant communities.

A US-based vehicle manufacturer that provides commercial and specialized vehicles to law enforcement and immigration authorities. Its trucks are also used by the Israeli military and border police to patrol the Gaza wall and for other military occupation-related purposes.

A US construction company that constructed parts of and performed maintenance on the US-Mexico border barrier.

A Japanese vehicle manufacturer, which provides US Border Patrol with all-terrain vehicles.

A UK-based bank holding and financial services company. It has been one of the main financial backers of private prison companies CoreCivic and GEO Group.

One of the world's largest IT companies. A major contractor for U.S. immigration authorities. Runs the discriminatory Israeli population registry and provides technologies to the Israeli military.

A US-based investment banking and financial services company. It has been one of the main financial backers of private prison companies CoreCivic and GEO Group. In 2019, it announced that it would stop financing these companies. As of 2023, CoreCivic's and GEO Group's credit agreements do not disclose the financial institutions involved.

A US engineering and construction firm that does maintenance and repairs of the US-Mexico border fence in Arizona.

A US-based military company that provides phone tracking devices and other equipment to US immigration authorities and the Israeli military. Used to provide surveillance technologies for the US-Mexico border and Israeli military checkpoints.

A US military IT contractor that provides imaging technologies and biometric systems to US immigration authorities for border monitoring and surveillance.

The world's largest military company. It manufactures multiple weapon systems that are routinely used in war crimes against Palestinian civilians and reconnaissance aircraft that are used to monitor the US–Mexico border.

A Swedish data extraction firm that provides digital forensics tools to law enforcement and immigration authorities

One of the world’s largest IT companies. Provides tools and infrastructure used by the US government to surveil immigrant communities and to manage prisons. Divested AnyVision for surveilling Palestinians but keeps providing services to the Israeli police.

A US-based communications and surveillance company. Leading supplier of license plate recognition software. Sells surveillance products for use at US prisons, at the US-Mexico Border, and by US police agencies. Its equipment is installed in illegal settlements and in the separation wall in the West Bank and is used by the Israeli military, police, and prison service.

Japan

A Japanese IT company that provides the US government with biometric technologies used to target immigrant communities.

A Japanese financial services holding company. It has provided financing to private prison and immigrant detention company CoreCivic through two of its subsidiaries, Nomura Corporate Funding Americas and Nomura Securities International.

The world's fourth-largest military company. It manufactures multiple weapon systems used by the Israeli military against Palestinian civilians, and was instrumental in developing ICE's deportation machine.

A US manufacturer of security and inspection systems. It provides these systems to US border checkpoints and to Israeli military checkpoints in the occupied Palestinian territory.

USA

A U.S. military and government contractor that provides maintenance to the aircraft fleet used to monitor the US borders and beyond

A US-based high-tech surveillance company. Designed systems for US immigration authorities to surveil and target immigrants and to manage mass immigration raids. Its predictive policing tools are used by law enforcement agencies and by Israeli security forces.

A US-based financial services and bank holding company. Its subsidiary Pinnacle Bank has provided credit and loans to private prison corporation CoreCivic.

A US-based bank holding and financial services company. Its subsidiary PNC Bank has been one of the main financial backers of private prison company CoreCivic. In 2019, it announced that it would not extend any additional credit to companies operating private prisons. As of 2023, CoreCivic's credit agreements do not publicly disclose the financial institutions involved.

United States

A US vehicle manufacturer that provides all-terrain vehicles, utility task vehicles, and snowmobiles to immigration authorities.

A US-based bank holding and financial services company. It has been one of the main financial backers of private prison companies CoreCivic and GEO Group. After announcing in 2021 that it would not extend additional credit services to CoreCivic, it became the new trustee of a bond agreement with the company, set to mature in 2026.

A UK-based information and analytics firm. Its subsidiary LexisNexis provides data analytics to US immigration authorities to identify and locate persons targeted for deportation.

The world's second-largest military company, formerly known as Raytheon Technologies. It makes missiles, bombs, components for fighter jets, and other weapon systems used by the Israeli military against Palestinian civilians. Its surveillance technology is also used to monitor the U.S.–Mexico border.

A US cloud computing and AI company whose systems power the US Unified Immigration Portal

A US military and intelligence contractor, which has enhanced data sharing between US immigration authorities and local law enforcement agencies.

A British engineering company that provides X-ray and surveillance technologies to US immigration authorities to monitor borders.

A US-based bank holding and financial services company. Its subsidiary Synovus Bank has been one of the main financial backers of private prison company CoreCivic.

A US workforce housing company that owns and partially operates two of the largest US immigration jails.

A US engineering and IT government contractor. Its subsidiary FLIR Systems provides mobile surveillance systems to monitor the US-Mexico border.

A US-based military contractor known for its Bell, Beechcraft, Cessna, and Hawker aircraft brands, some of which are used to monitor the US-Mexico border and by the Israeli Air Force.

France

A French multinational that designs and manufactures electrical systems for the aerospace and defense industries. Supplies biometric technologies for the databases used to surveil immigrants in the US.

A US-based global investment firm. Its subsidiary Mantech is a military contractor that provides IT and surveillance services to US immigration authorities.

The world’s second-largest private prison company. It owns and operates prisons and jails, including immigration jails and “community corrections” centers, and uses forced prison labor. It also provides e-carceration technologies, transportation, and other services as part of the criminal punishment system.

 

A US pharmaceutical and biotech company that provides equipment for mass DNA testing of people detained by US immigration authorities and Rapid DNA testing of migrant families at the US-Mexico border

A Canadian data broker and information services provider that provides systems and databases to the US immigration authorities for tracking and targeting immigrant communities

A credit rating agency and data broker that provides customized software and services to law enforcement and US immigration authorities

A US-based bank holding company. Its subsidiary Truist Bank (formerly SunTrust Bank) has been one of the main financial backers of private prison companies CoreCivic and GEO Group. In 2019, it announced that it would no longer provide financing to companies that manage private prisons and immigrant detention centers. As of 2023, CoreCivic's and GEO Group's credit agreements do not publicly disclose the financial institutions involved.

A US-based bank holding company. It has been one of the main financial backers of private prison company CoreCivic. In 2019, it announced that it would no longer finance the private prison industry. As of 2023, CoreCivic's credit agreements do not disclose the financial institutions involved.

A US-based multinational banking and financial services company. It has been one of the main financial backers of private prison companies CoreCivic and GEO Group. In 2019, it announced that it would exit its relationships with these companies. As of 2023, CoreCivic's and GEO Group's credit agreements do not publicly disclose the financial institutions involved.

A Japanese vehicle manufacturer that provides all-terrain vehicles and watercraft to US Border Patrol.

Private Companies

AARDVARK Tactical sells military-grade tactical equipment, including armor, TASERs, crowd control weapons, acoustic hailing devices, robots, personal protective products, personnel/vehicle search equipment, and vehicle stopping systems, to law enforcement, prison, and immigration agencies.

A Florida-based immigration bail bond company that operates across all 50 US states. It claims that it has posted bail for "tens of thousands" of people detained by US immigration authorities.

California

A California-based bail bond insurance company—comprised of Allegheny Casualty, Associated Bond, and International Fidelity—that underwrites jail and immigration bonds. It operates across all 50 US states and Puerto Rico.

A joint venture of several IT companies contracted in 2020 for five years of service to facilitate Homeland Security Investigation's usage of the Communications for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA), which requires telecom companies to help law enforcement wiretap their networks.

A private US-based investment management company. As of 2022, it serves as the administrative agent of CoreCivic's and GEO Group's loans.

An Indiana-based property and casualty insurance company that specializes in underwriting immigration and jail bonds. It operates in 46 US states.

Massachusetts

Since 2020, Anduril has provided CBP with Autonomous Surveillance Towers (AST) that use artificial intelligence and Google technologies to monitor the US-Mexico border.

A Florida-based financial holding company whose bail bond surety subsidiary Bankers Surety provides surety services for immigration and jail bonds. It operates in over 40 US states.

The company designed, built, and repaired physical barriers along the border in Arizona and California from 2018 to 2020.

Berla, in collaboration with MSAB, makes vehicle forensics kits that CBP uses to extract personal information from cars' infotainment and navigation systems. The system can extract contact lists, messages, pictures, and recent destinations from any synchronized mobile devices.

A biometrics company that has conducted DNA analysis and testing of immigrants since 2014. Since 2019, Bode has provided CBP and ICE with Rapid DNA testing services using Thermo Fisher's RapidHIT ID system.

In a joint venture with Gibraltar US, Gibraltar-Caddell has designed and constructed US-Mexico border infrastructure since 2019. In 2017, Caddell desiged a prototype for the "Trump Wall."

Provides law enforcement agencies, including ICE since 2019, with a tool that indexes images from online sources and matches them with facial images in law enforcement databases.

New York

A surveillance company that mines facial images from websites including social media and uses facial recognition software to create databases for law enforcement and other government agencies. Clearview has sold a subscription to its database to CBP since 2020.

Pennsylvania

Combined Systems Inc provides less-lethal weapons, including tear gas, and other equipment under its Combined Tactical Systems (CTS) brand to military forces and law enforcement agencies around the world.

New York

Dataminr provides real-time alerts from social media and other public data sources to law enforcement, and this information is shared with DHS through its fusion centers.

Since 2018, Davenport Aviation has partnered with Airbus to provide CBP with "light enforcement helicopters" for patrolling US borders.

One of the world's largest consulting firms, with multiple large contracts with ICE and CBP, including for optimizing their immigrant detention capabilities and for developing the Unified Immigration Portal (UIP), using Salesforce technology, to facilitate information sharing across DHS agencies.

Dev Technology is the main contractor for DHS' Enforcement Integrated Database (EID), which contains biometric and other information collected by ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations agents and is shared with CBP, other federal agencies, and the government of Mexico. The company also has contracts with CBP for biometric application development.

The primary contractor for border construction during the Trump administration, Fisher Sand & Gravel built more than 90 miles of walls and fences along the US-Mexico border in Texas and Arizona.

California

Developed and operates COPLINK, a system used to facilitate information sharing between local law enforcement and federal agencies including ICE. Forensic Logic had a contract with ICE for access to law enforcement data from 2018 to 2020.

A subsidiary of Allied Universal, the world's largest private security company. It runs private prisons in Australia and the UK and deports immigrants in the US. It divested from all of its activities with the Israeli government following a global campaign.

A Canadian private security firm that operates across 45 countries. In addition to providing security guards to government, commercial, and nonprofit clients, it sells security and surveillance equipment and offers armored car, police support, facility management, and other security-related services.

California

CBP's main contractor for drones to monitor the US-Mexico border. General Atomics has provided at least 10 MQ-9 Predator B drones since 2005, and continues providing "operational and maintenance" at least until 2022.

Virginia

During 2014-2022, ICE used Giant Oak Search Technology (GOST), originally developed for the military, to mine social media content for the purpose of automatically assessing people's "threat level" and flag them for increased surveillance, arrest, or deportation.

In a joint venture with Caddell Construction, Gibraltar-Caddell has designed and constructed US-Mexico border infrastructure since 2019.

A New Jersey–based immigration bail bond company that operates across all 50 US states. 

Georgia

Owned by private equity firm Peak Equity Partners, Grayshift provides its GrayKey system to ICE and CBP for extracting data from cell phones. In 2019, Grayshift partnered with Magnet Forensics to make GrayKey available to more law enforcement.

Owned by private equity firm Advent International, IDEMIA creates automated biometrics systems for governments around the world, including the US, since 2005.

Since 2014, JDL Digital Systems has provided support and equipment for the Video Evidence Collection and Distribution System (VECADS) used by ICE and CBP. The company develops standalone security cameras as well as video recording and time management equipment for aircraft, drones, and vehicles.

One of the largest construction and engineering companies in the US. Its subsidiary Southwest Valley Constructors has built physical barriers along the US-Mexico border in Texas, Arizona, and California under contracts worth $2.7 billion from 2019 to 2021. As the parent company, Kiewit Infrastructure had an additional smaller border construction contract in Texas from 2019 to 2020.

Has multiple CBP contracts for maintenance and repair along the US-Meixco border since 2019.

A construction firm specializing in government and military products KWR has provided construction and maintenance for the US-Mexico border mostly in Arizona, and in 2017 submitted a prototype for the "Trump Wall."

Massachusetts

Lenco Industries manufactures the BEAR and BearCat armored vehicles for military, law enforcement, and immigration authorities around the world.

A Kentucky-based property and casualty insurance company that specializes in underwriting jail and immigration bail bonds. It operates across all 50 US states. 

A Virginia-based bail bond services company that secures immigration bonds for individuals detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in exchange for monthly and other fees. Owned by private e-carceration company Nexus Services, the self-proclaimed "legal aid" provider has been sued and investigated numerous times for "preying on undocumented immigrants" and "acting as an unlicensed bail bond agency."

A Canadian software company that sells phone-hacking and data analysis software to US immigration authorities and other law enforcement agencies.

Owned by private equity firm DC Capital Partners, Michael Baker International was contracted in 2021 by the State of Texas to construct a wall along its border with Mexico. In 2006, the company constructed more than 500 miles of physical barrier on the US-Mexico border.

Virginia

Noblis provides systems engineering and technical assistance to DHS, testing and evaluating new DHS technologies. The company has provided biometric support services to DHS in the past, and DHS plans to use Noblis facial recognition technology to target suspected members of gangs.

Nebraska

A communications data analysis company that mines data including phone usage, social media, and internet communications to track people in real time. These data, which Pen-Link has provided to ICE and CBP since at least 2008, is integrated into the Palantir-designed Investigative Case Management (ICM) system.

Virginia

Owned by private equity firm Veritas Capital, Peraton took over Northrop Grumman's contract for DHS' HART biometric database and L3Harris contract for CBP's Tethered Aerostat Radar System (blimps) on the US-Mexico border.

Virginia

Formerly Geospark Analytics, Seerist has provided CBP with its Hyperion software since 2020; the software uses artificial intelligence to automate "risk and threat intelligence gathering and analysis."

Since 2009, Sierra Nevada has modified Textron aircraft into CBP's Multi-Role Enforcement Aircraft for monitoring US borders.

Texas

Since 2018, SLSCO has replaced and constructed border barriers along the US-Mexico border.

A forensics and biometrics company that, since 2019, consults DHS on optimizing its analysis of rapid DNA tests taken from immigrants at the US-Mexico border.

A subsidiary of Kiewit Infrastructure West, Southwest Valley Constructors has designed and built physical barriers along the US-Mexico border in Texas, Arizona, and California under contracts worth $2.7 billion from 2019 to 2021.

A Virginia-based immigration bail bond company that operates across all 50 US states.

Virginia

Since 2019, Venntel has provided ICE and CBP with its database of people's locations based on mining smartphone app data.