The US' Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) department has more than tripled its use of Microsoft's cloud offerings in the last six months.

According to findings from an investigation conducted by The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call, the controversial government department has been ramping up both its data storage and use of AI tools while arrests and deportations escalate.

Citing leaked files, ICE reportedly more than tripled the amount of data it stored on Microsoft servers between July 2025 and January 2026. In July, some 400 terabytes were being stored on Azure by ICE. At the end of January, this had soared to 1,400 terabytes.

According to the publications, the files did not state what format the data stored was in, but did show that ICE was also using Microsoft Azure's AI tools to search and analyze images and videos.

DCD has contacted Microsoft for comment.

Update -

Reuters reports that Microsoft has provided a statement regarding the investigation, as follows.

"As we've previously said, ​Microsoft provides ​cloud-based productivity and collaboration tools to DHS (Department of Homeland Security, of which ICE is ⁠a part) and ICE, delivered through our key partners.

"Microsoft policies and terms of service do not allow ​our technology to be used for the mass surveillance of civilians, and we do not believe ICE is engaged in such activity."

Original story resumes -

ICE has been rapidly ramping up its efforts to arrest and deport people living in the US without visas. Under Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill, ICE's budget was expanded by $45 billion, and the number of agents patrolling cities was expanded significantly. To date, two American citizens have been killed by ICE agents during their operations. ICE and the wider US government have claimed these were both in self-defense.

The department has previously been reported as using various surveillance technologies, including facial recognition software, drones, phone location tracking, and, in October 2025, was said to have spent $825,000 on cell site simulator vehicles, which could allow it to eavesdrop on any mobile phone that connects to it to make a call.

According to the leaked documents, ICE has been using Microsoft’s AI video analysis tools, including Azure AI Video Indexer and Azure Vision, which can analyze images and detect words, faces, emotions, and objects in both audio and video files. It has also "significantly expanded" its use of productivity apps, including document management tools and an AI chatbot. The publications note that it is not specified if these are being used for surveillance storage, or if they're for other operations, such as detention centers or coordinating deportation logistics.

ICE has been a customer of Microsoft since at least President Trump's first presidential term. At the time, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told staff that the company’s “current cloud engagement with [ICE] is supporting legacy mail, calendar, messaging, and document management workload.” According to the recent investigation, Microsoft has reaffirmed this messaging to employees, telling them it "does not presently maintain AI services contracts tied specifically to enforcement activities.”

ICE is also a known user of Amazon Web Services (AWS). The publications claim that ICE has also ramped up its use of AWS, but did not elaborate. DCD has contacted AWS for comment.

The three publications previously partnered on investigations looking at the Israeli government's use of cloud computing services during the war in Gaza, including for the purpose of storing and analysing mass surveillance data.

Microsoft president Brad Smith said following this report that Microsoft's policies include prohibiting the use of its technology for the mass surveillance of civilians, writing: "We have applied this principle in every country around the world, and we have insisted on it repeatedly for more than two decades."

He added that the company does not have access to customer content due to Microsoft's own privacy policies.

Earlier this year, ICE agents targeted a Meta construction site, arresting numerous workers.