ICE is using facial-recognition technology to quickly arrest people • Hacker News Board

Re: ICE is using facial-recognition technology to quickly arrest people

#171

Post by tech_ken » Mon, Jan 05, 2026, 5:57 PM UTC

mindslight wrote: post #164

15155 wrote: post #154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yawn. My concern goes far beyond monetary cost, given that political districts count illegal immigrants for purposes of representation (census) and that birthright citizenship exists. By encouraging illegal immigration ("sanctuary cities"), you can "buy" depressed wages for the portion of society in need of the most help, House seats, electoral votes, and voters at the expense of the nation's citizenry at large.

You were narrowly driving focus on "tax dollars". I was referencing costs beyond the monetary - the corrosive effect on what had remained of the rule of law, and consequently on individual liberty. The fish rots from the head - you can't throw away these things while imagining such actions are necessary to save them. > political districts count illegal immigrants for purposes of representation (census) > you can "buy…

I think you're making the mistake that any of their points are cogent or intended to function as proper arguments. It's just bullshit chaff to make you waste time, and provide a patina of legitimacy for the fact that they really just want the US to be an ethnostate and will adopt whatever policy stance is convenient to that end. Note how at the start they're complaining about tax-dollar spending, and then later in the thread they hit you with "My concern goes far beyond monetary cost, the problem is really [SOME_OTHER_BULLSHIT]". There's no consistency; it's just sound and fury, signifying nothing.

Re: ICE is using facial-recognition technology to quickly arrest people

#172

Post by goatlover » Mon, Jan 05, 2026, 6:02 PM UTC

15155 wrote: post #163

kingkawn wrote: post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bc these immigrants as a whole contribute more to the federal state and local tax base than they take out, it’s super simple. I guess you don’t like the economy.

Another artful legal vs. illegal conflation - citation needed. I have no doubt in my mind folks coming in on H-1B and O-1 visas contribute more than they take out: nobody is disputing that. When an illegal immigrant making $2/hr under the table cuts his hand off at a meat packing plant, who pays the hospital bill? How many tax dollars does this one incident wipe out?

Vastly less than the tax dollars for all the foreign military interventions including the latest adventure in Venezuela, if you're really worried about wasting tax dollars.

A universal healthcare system would cover everyone in the country when it's needed. The US is a massive, highly developed economy, no reason we couldn't fund that.

Re: ICE is using facial-recognition technology to quickly arrest people

#173

Post by goatlover » Mon, Jan 05, 2026, 6:10 PM UTC

15155 wrote: post #156

bakies wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> we don't owe foreigners anything This isn't true, it's a pillar of the USA to harbor refugees and welcome immigrants. It's our entire history. It's our entire identity. > Proportionately far fewer, obviously I dont think so. There's a lot of people in this country, far more citizens than illegal immigrants. > Not wanting to finance unskilled lawbreakers capital punishment for every crime if you dont have a degree?…

> This isn't true, it's a pillar of the USA to harbor refugees and welcome immigrants. It's our entire history. It's our entire identity. All of these dreamy tales are from before the New Deal for a reason. > I dont think so. There's a lot of people in this country, far more citizens than illegal immigrants. The word "proportionately" means something: if you believe that the same percentage of illegal immigrants pay…

> Deportation is not capital punishment!

And how well do deported people fair? Sometimes they'll be returned to dangerous situations they were fleeing, sometimes to impoverished areas, sometimes even to prisons. I'm guessing some do end up dead. Even for those who manage, some might never see family members again.

Re: ICE is using facial-recognition technology to quickly arrest people

#174

Post by goatlover » Mon, Jan 05, 2026, 6:16 PM UTC

15155 wrote: post #143

amanaplanacanal wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The right to travel is a basic human right, whether any particular government recognizes it or not. People have been migrating to make a better life for themselves since humans have existed. Your ancestors did it, my ancestors did it. Good luck sweeping back the tide.

> Good luck sweeping back the tide. $170B should make a big dent! Southern border encounters are way down: I think it's working!

And how much do you think illegal immigration is costing tax payers for medical care in comparison?

Re: ICE is using facial-recognition technology to quickly arrest people

#175

Post by dpc_01234 » Mon, Jan 05, 2026, 6:28 PM UTC

Totalitarians on one side convince their side, that it's totally fine and desirable to ignore the law and let millions of illegal immigrants in. Then then totalitarians on the other side convince their side it is necessary to ignore the law and introduce wide sweeping surveillance to undo it. Congratulations, both sides cooperated while hating each other because they are easy to play dummies.

Re: ICE is using facial-recognition technology to quickly arrest people

#176

Post by JumpCrisscross » Mon, Jan 05, 2026, 6:54 PM UTC

thrance wrote: post #88

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> like China invented social credit scores which are for social control and definitely not like US credit scores which are just good business sense …yes. You don’t get your credit score dinged because you tweeted something naughty. You can be a felon with perfect credit.

You should read up on China's credit score. There are a lot of misinformations about it online. In effect, it does little more than the US credit scores that inspired it.

> You should read up on China's credit score

I could really say the same to you. Emphasizing original sources, not summaries.

> In effect, it does little more than the US credit scores that inspired it

“Little more” does a lot of heavy lifting here.

The nuclear bomb was inspired by the explosive power of TNT.

Re: ICE is using facial-recognition technology to quickly arrest people

#177

Post by JumpCrisscross » Mon, Jan 05, 2026, 6:55 PM UTC

lovich wrote: post #69

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> like China invented social credit scores which are for social control and definitely not like US credit scores which are just good business sense …yes. You don’t get your credit score dinged because you tweeted something naughty. You can be a felon with perfect credit.

Brah, some employers in the US check your credit score to make sure you are trustworthy enough. Your credit score can be checked in multiple other situations that have nothing to do with you taking on debt, but still somehow your debt factors into the decision. If you think there is no social control as part of this system, then you are just blind to the system you grew up in

> some employers in the US check your credit score to make sure you are trustworthy enough

Sure. They’re evaluating your creditworthiness. What they’re not measuring is your political coherence or social “goodness.”

The closest thing we have to a social score is a criminal record.

Re: ICE is using facial-recognition technology to quickly arrest people

#178

Post by mindslight » Mon, Jan 05, 2026, 6:58 PM UTC

tech_ken wrote: post #171

mindslight wrote: post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You were narrowly driving focus on "tax dollars". I was referencing costs beyond the monetary - the corrosive effect on what had remained of the rule of law, and consequently on individual liberty. The fish rots from the head - you can't throw away these things while imagining such actions are necessary to save them. > political districts count illegal immigrants for purposes of representation (census) > you can "buy…

I think you're making the mistake that any of their points are cogent or intended to function as proper arguments. It's just bullshit chaff to make you waste time, and provide a patina of legitimacy for the fact that they really just want the US to be an ethnostate and will adopt whatever policy stance is convenient to that end. Note how at the start they're complaining about tax-dollar spending, and then later in th…

I am aware of this. I just don't see what else to do.

1. I actually believe in many of these lofty ideals that are being dishonestly abused by the fascists.

2. Discussing things in terms of abstract ideals is a Schelling point that at least creates a chance for people from disparate tribes to find common ground.

3. There are other people reading along that might be swayed by the disingenuous chaff standing unquestioned.

4. I'd say it's going too far to write off most people spouting this nonsense as fully consciously aware of a contradictory agenda they keep hidden. I'd say it's more like they bought into feel-good nonsense posed as opposition to the blue head of the authoritarian hydra, and then basically haven't examined it too hard. And I'd say much of the opposition groupthink framed in terms of directly clashing overt values doesn't help either. So I think it's valuable to point out the glaring hypocrisy even if many of them have learned to revel in it.

Re: ICE is using facial-recognition technology to quickly arrest people

#179

Post by lovich » Mon, Jan 05, 2026, 7:03 PM UTC

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #177

lovich wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Brah, some employers in the US check your credit score to make sure you are trustworthy enough. Your credit score can be checked in multiple other situations that have nothing to do with you taking on debt, but still somehow your debt factors into the decision. If you think there is no social control as part of this system, then you are just blind to the system you grew up in

> some employers in the US check your credit score to make sure you are trustworthy enough Sure. They’re evaluating your creditworthiness. What they’re not measuring is your political coherence or social “goodness.” The closest thing we have to a social score is a criminal record.

Does the chinese system go farther than the US one in control? yes

Does the US system that gets used to influence your behavior also social control? yes

Re: ICE is using facial-recognition technology to quickly arrest people

#180

Post by lenocinor » Mon, Jan 05, 2026, 7:13 PM UTC

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #176

thrance wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You should read up on China's credit score. There are a lot of misinformations about it online. In effect, it does little more than the US credit scores that inspired it.

> You should read up on China's credit score I could really say the same to you. Emphasizing original sources, not summaries. > In effect, it does little more than the US credit scores that inspired it “Little more” does a lot of heavy lifting here. The nuclear bomb was inspired by the explosive power of TNT.

I’m often not a fan of the Chinese government’s practices, but I think the parent is right here personally. I think Wikipedia does a nice job discussing it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_credit_system#Misconcep...