Cuban-American Enrique Tarrio Introduces App Turning Immigrant Tracking into a Business

Enrique Tarrio, a former leader of the Proud Boys and a close ally of Donald Trump, is set to transform the pursuit of immigrants into a digital enterprise through an app that rewards users for reporting undocumented individuals. The Cuban-American announced the launch of ICERAID, a web application utilizing artificial intelligence to analyze photos and data uploaded by its users. This platform can be used across the United States to report undocumented immigrants, with users earning rewards in a digital currency called $RAID.

On his X account, Tarrio celebrated his appointment as the "Czar" of this platform, promising payments to those who assist in "making America safe again."

Lucrative Rewards for Reporting Immigrants

The website claims that "the more images and locations you upload and validate, the more $RAID you earn." This financial incentive is expanded through weekly contests and participation bonuses. Experts have labeled this strategy as a form of citizen surveillance dangerously reminiscent of historical models of repression.

Although ICERAID is marketed as a tool against crime and illegal immigration, its operational logic has sparked intense criticism from human rights organizations and community leaders. The app allows users to upload photos of individuals suspected of being in the country illegally or of committing crimes such as drug trafficking or "obstruction of deportations." All reports are logged on a public map using color codes to geolocate the allegations.

The company behind the project clarifies that privacy laws may differ by state, but offers an "informative guide" and disclaims any legal responsibility.

Simultaneously, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released an image with war propaganda aesthetics, featuring Uncle Sam urging the public to "report all foreign invaders." The timing of this announcement alongside the app's launch hints at a coordinated effort or, at the very least, an ideological alignment between government actors and private platforms like ICERAID.

A Controversial Cuban-American Figure

Enrique Tarrio was convicted of conspiracy for his role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack but received a pardon from Donald Trump earlier this year. Now, portraying himself as a victim of the "system" and a defender of American values, he re-emerges with a proposal many consider dangerous.

Advocacy groups for immigrant rights fear the app could become a tool for intimidation and retaliation in workplaces or neighborhoods. Previous experiences show that anonymous reporting systems have been exploited to settle personal disputes or eliminate business competition in the United States.

Privatizing the Pursuit of Immigrants

While ICERAID is presented as an independent, non-governmental initiative, it exemplifies how hate speech can manifest into tangible technological mechanisms supporting the current administration's immigration policies. Tarrio, who grew up in Little Havana, Miami, and was the director of Latinos for Trump, continues his activism through technology, pushing an agenda that fuels fear, surveillance, and distrust in the United States.

The legitimization of harassment, underpinned by financial incentives and patriotic rhetoric, sets a dangerous precedent for immigrant communities in the country. ICERAID turns the hunt for immigrants into a business.