U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is planning to spend up to $2 million on robot dogs designed to help officers safely inspect hazardous locations during law enforcement operations, according to a newly released Department of Homeland Security procurement notice.
The proposal calls for the purchase of Boston Dynamics' four-legged Spot robots and related accessories to support ICE missions by allowing officers to remotely assess potentially dangerous environments before entering them. According to the planning document, the robots are intended to improve officer safety during border security and other enforcement operations, not to apprehend people. The robots will not be used to make arrests, according to reporting from The Hill.
The planned
purchase is the latest example of ICE expanding its use of specialized technology. It follows the agency's recent decision to move forward with a multimillion-dollar purchase of electric shock gloves for officers, a proposal that has drawn criticism from civil rights groups and some Democratic lawmakers.
What would the robot dogs do?
According to DHS's Acquisition Planning Forecast System, ICE wants the robots to provide "inspection, situational awareness, and hazard assessment" in places that may be too dangerous for officers to enter immediately.
The procurement notice says the remotely operated robots could be used to inspect confined, unstable or otherwise difficult-to-access areas while helping officers make decisions before moving into a scene.
"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 says.
What are Boston Dynamics' Spot robots?
Spot is a robotic platform already used by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies across the country.
According to Boston Dynamics, the robots are equipped with cameras and sensors that can detect hazards such as gas, radiation and vibration. They can also navigate uneven terrain and use an extendable robotic arm to interact with objects, including opening certain doors. The company says Spot is designed to collect information in places where sending a person could be unsafe.
The technology has previously been deployed by the U.S. Secret Service. In 2024, videos of Spot robots patrolling President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago property in Florida spread widely on social media.
Police departments, including those in Los Angeles and New York, have also used Spot during high-risk operations. In a 2023 demonstration released by the Los Angeles Police Department, police used one of the robots to inspect a crime scene for potential firearms and explosives instead of sending officers into the area first.
Boston Dynamics says in its ethics policy that it does not authorize the use of its robots as weapons or autonomous targeting systems.
Proposal follows recent ICE technology purchases
The proposed robot dog purchase comes days after ICE finalized a $16.7 million contract for thousands of electric shock gloves for officers, part of the agency's broader effort to expand the equipment available during immigration enforcement operations.
DHS has said it regularly evaluates new tools to improve officer safety while ensuring any technology complies with law enforcement policies and standards. The electric glove purchase has been criticized by civil rights organizations and Democratic lawmakers, who have argued the agency should instead invest in de-escalation training and accountability measures.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com, or on X @athompsonUSAT
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ICE to spend up to $2M on robot dogs to support operations, not arrests
