ICE Has a Help Wanted Sign Out for Border Security – Only Robots Need Apply

If one is a fan of a certain movie franchise featuring a certain Austrian bodybuilder-turned-actor, one might remember that it was on this day in 1997 that Skynet attained self-awareness, started to learn at a logarithmic rate, and eventually decided to end humanity in what was called Judgment Day.

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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for eliminating vulnerabilities in the nation’s border, and with supporting economic, transportation and infrastructure security. DHS will secure the national border while welcoming lawful immigrants, visitors, and trade. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has a requirement to purchase Boston Dynamics SPOT Robots and accessories support public safety and law enforcement operations by providing a remotely operated robotic capability for inspection, situational awareness, and hazard assessment in environments that may pose risks to personnel. 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.

Note that an “Acquisition Planning Forecast,” as this document is, is only a plan; these are routinely either revised or canceled as they proceed through the process.

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These robots may prove useful indeed.

Spot is a dog-sized robot that walks on four legs and can be fitted with cameras, sensors and an arm. Police and fire agencies have used similar machines to inspect suspected explosive devices, enter buildings during standoffs and survey hazardous sites.

Boston Dynamics markets the robots to public safety agencies and says it is “committed to partnering with first responders, police departments, fire brigades, military or government agencies charged with keeping the public safe.” Its terms of use prohibit customers from using its products “as weapons, or to enable weapons, or to harm or intimidate any person or animal.” The company has also signed an industry pledge against weaponizing general-purpose robots.

That last part is a tad disappointing, but this is a police, not a military, application.

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These also would seem to be useful in confrontations or arrests. Even if one of these machines were exposed to fire, that very likely means there is an officer who was not exposed to fire. Police departments are using them to enter contested buildings, to inspect possible improvised explosives or booby traps, and look over any other possible hazard. That’s something that may well otherwise have to be done by an officer. Better it be a robot that gets blown up if things go wrong.

And perhaps they will even be given radio capacity, so that an officer might speak to someone through the machine, a feature that’s routine enough already in tiny home and business security cameras. If they do, it would be inconceivable for an operator, at least once, to say to someone, “Come with me if you want to live.”

(*) Full article: https://redstate.com/wardclark/2026/08/29/ice-has-a-help-wanted-sign-out-for-border-security-only-robots-need-apply-n2206235