{"slug": "ice-explores-purchasing-robot-dogs-in-enforcement-tech-push", "title": "ICE explores purchasing robot dogs in enforcement tech push", "summary": "US Immigration and Customs Enforcement posted a market-research notice Friday exploring the purchase of quadruped unmanned ground vehicles, known as robot dogs, as part of the Trump administration's enforcement technology push. The agency is considering spending at least $2 million on the robots, according to NBC News, amid concerns from civil liberties groups over increased ICE funding and use of force in deportations.", "body_md": "**Getting your**\n\n[Trinity Audio](//trinityaudio.ai)player ready...**By Alicia A. Caldwell, Bloomberg**\n\nThe Trump administration is exploring adding robot dogs to the [expanding arsenal](https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/08/12/immigration-ice-shock-gloves-outrage/) being used by federal immigration authorities as they seek to boost arrests and deportations across the country.\n\nUS Immigration and Customs Enforcement posted a market-research notice Friday saying the agency was looking into the purchase of “quadruped unmanned ground vehicles,” known as robotic dogs, along with a draft of the robot specifications.\n\n**RELATED: ICE awards $16.7 million contract to buy 6,000 pairs of gloves that deliver electric shocks**\n\nThe posting comes amid concerns from civil liberties groups about plans to increase funding for ICE as the agency faces questions over the use of force in President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportations drive. The agency has signaled it plans to boost spending on enforcement technology, including as much as $20 million to outfit ICE agents and officers with electric shock gloves, which deliver a debilitating shock to a person when used directly on the skin.\n\nAccording to NBC News, which first reported the agency’s interest in the dog-like quadruped robots, the government is looking to spend at least $2 million on the robots. ICE’s market research posting stipulates there’s no guarantee the government will solicit a future order.\n\nThe Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.\n\nMore stories like this are available on [bloomberg.com](https://www.bloomberg.com)\n\n©2026 Bloomberg L.P.", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/ice-explores-purchasing-robot-dogs-in-enforcement-tech-push", "canonical_source": "https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/08/31/ice-explores-purchasing-robot-dogs-in-enforcement-tech-push/", "published_at": "2026-08-31 17:01:39+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-08-31 17:22:11.647268+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["robotics", "ai-policy"], "entities": ["US Immigration and Customs Enforcement", "Bloomberg", "NBC News", "Department of Homeland Security", "Donald Trump"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/ice-explores-purchasing-robot-dogs-in-enforcement-tech-push", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/ice-explores-purchasing-robot-dogs-in-enforcement-tech-push.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/ice-explores-purchasing-robot-dogs-in-enforcement-tech-push.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/ice-explores-purchasing-robot-dogs-in-enforcement-tech-push.jsonld"}}