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The Daily Scoop Podcast
How tech and data-sharing fueled record arrests for ICE
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement surpassed its…
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Today on the Daily Scoop podcast from the Scoop News Group, how tech and data sharing fueled record arrests for ICE and the war in Iran is quickly becoming defined by the use of drones. It's Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Welcome to the Daily Scoop Podcast, where you'll hear the latest news and trends facing government leaders. I'm the host of the Daily Scoop Podcast, Billy Mitchell. Thanks so much for joining me. And now let's dive into the day's top headlines. U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement surpassed its arrest goals for fiscal 2025 thanks to technology additions and data sharing partnerships across the agency and federal government. According to the Department of Homeland Security's latest annual performance report and plan, ICE more than doubled its fiscal 2025 goal with 167,651 arrests of individuals with criminal convictions or with pending criminal a 106% jump from the prior year, the agency said in the report published on Friday. The DHS unit has since increased its future annual target to 400,000 arrests. DHS said in its report that, quote, this increase was achieved by strengthening partnerships with other agencies, improving data and technology for identifying cases, and focusing enforcement efforts on public safety threats, unquote. The agency has ramped up its technology use, embedding tools closer to core law enforcement operations. ICE's adoption of artificial intelligence in particular drove the growth of AI use cases across the broader agency, according to DHS's 2025 Artificial Intelligence Inventory published earlier this year. ICE agents are using the technology to process tips, review data for investigations and identification verification. In addition to its growing use of AI, ICE and DHS broadly has also expanded detection and tracking capabilities to form robust surveillance systems. Now, in other news, the US Military launched more one way attack drones Monday against Iran, Central Command announced Tuesday, adding that hundreds of unmanned platforms have been involved in Operation Epic Fury in various roles to date. Tuesday's announcement comes several weeks after CENTCOM noted that it had employed long range kamikaze drones in combat for the first time during the early days of the Iran war, which President Donald Trump commenced on February 28th. Those platforms, known as the Low Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack Systems, or Lucas drones, were reverse engineered and are similar to Iran's shahed weapons. In early March, a CENTCOM spokesperson told defense group that Lucas drones remain ready for employment. Centcom's post on social media platform X on Tuesday did not disclose whether the one way attack drones launched Monday night included Lucas platforms or other systems or how many were deployed in the assault. Navy captain Tim Hawkins, US Central Command spokesperson, told defense coup that Lucas platforms were part of Monday night's attack, but didn't disclose how many took part, what types of targets they struck, or where they were launched from. Lucas platforms have a reported range of 500 miles and a wingspan of 8ft, as well as autonomy, anti jamming and swarming capabilities. They can be launched with catapults, rocket assisted takeoff and mobile ground and vehicle systems. The unit cost is reportedly $55,000 or less, which is less expensive than many traditional missile systems. The Command, in its social post, noted that a large number of unmanned systems across various domains have been involved in the war effort. Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of centcom, said in the statement posted on social media Tuesday that today hundreds of US Drones are fully integrated into offensive and defensive operations against Iran. These platforms operate in the air, at sea, under the sea and on the ground in support of our military objectives. In a press briefing Monday at the White House, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff general Dan Kaine noted that tactical drones helped provide overhead protection for US Forces that were involved in the rescue of a downed airman inside Iran over the weekend. However, he did not identify the specific systems involved. For more news at the intersection of the federal government and technology, make sure to visit fedscoop.com thanks so much for tuning in to another episode of the
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Daily Scoop Podcast, available on all podcast platforms. If you've already rated the podcast on your platform of choice, thanks so much. High ratings and good reviews of the show help more people to find it. The Daily Scoop Podcast is a production of the Scoop News Group in Washington, DC.
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Adam Butler and Carlin Fisher help put the show together and the entire Scoop News Group team contributes.
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We'll be back next week with more top headlines.
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Until then, I'm your host, Billy Mitchell. Thanks so much for listening.