Recent documents obtained by the Guardian and its partners indicate that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has notably increased its use of Microsoft’s Azure cloud technology amidst a crackdown on immigration actions. During the six months leading up to January 2026, ICE tripled the amount of data stored on Microsoft’s Azure platform. This surge corresponds with a significant increase in the agency's budget and the expansion of its workforce, suggesting a strategic move to enhance its operational capabilities in enforcing immigration laws.

The leaked files suggest that ICE is not only using Microsoft’s cloud services but is also employing various productivity and AI-driven tools offered by the company to better analyze and search the vast amount of data it collects. Additionally, there are indications that some of ICE’s own internal tools may also be operating on Microsoft’s infrastructure. This reliance raises critical questions regarding the ethical implications of technology facilitating immigration enforcement, especially against a backdrop of accusations against ICE for unlawful operations and excessive use of force.

As ICE's enforcement operations have increased, the implications of such reliance on corporate technology have come under scrutiny, particularly concerning privacy and civil liberties. The partnership between ICE and Microsoft appears to spark broader discussions about the role of technology corporations in government actions and the potential for misuse or overreach in surveillance and data management related to immigration enforcement. These revelations may stimulate further discussions about corporate accountability in the face of government actions that may infringe upon individual rights.