ICE Wants to Expand Rapid DNA Testing to Verify Relatives
ICE awards $10.1M contract to expand rapid DNA testing program used to verify family relationships.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has granted a $10.1 million contract to SNA International LLC to expand its rapid DNA testing program aimed at verifying claimed family relationships during immigration enforcement operations. The one-year contract, which began on August 10 and is set to run through August 9, 2027, will support ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) field offices across the country.
ERO is a division of ICE, responsible for immigration arrests, detention, and removals. The program will provide rapid DNA tests, equipment, and services to confirm biological relatives. Critics, including civil liberties and immigrant advocacy groups, have raised concerns about the use of genetic testing in immigration enforcement, particularly regarding privacy, non-biological family relationships, and the treatment of migrants and families interacting with authorities.
Stevie Glaberson, director of research and advocacy at Georgetown Law's Center on Privacy & Technology, highlighted the need for better understanding among migrants and families about why their DNA is being collected and for what purpose. SNA International CEO Steve Niezgoda stated that as a policy matter, they do not comment publicly on the specifics of government programs or operations.
Former ICE Deputy Field Office Director for ERO in New York, Scott Mechkowski, emphasized that the rapid DNA testing is not a novel tool, having been used for years to verify family relationships in immigration enforcement. The contract follows a $6.24 million award in 2025 for the same purpose, totaling over $16 million in federal obligations for the program.
The rapid DNA initiative originated from research conducted by SNA for DHS under the Small Business Innovation Research program in 2019, leading to multiple contracts aimed at implementing a rapid DNA testing system for field operations. The GAO ultimately supported ICE's decision, finding that the program derived from SNA's earlier federally funded research.
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