The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is moving forward with plans to incorporate quadruped robots into its operations in the United States. According to a procurement notice published by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the agency intends to invest between $1 million and $2 million in purchasing units of Spot, the well-known "robot dog" from Boston Dynamics. Each unit costs starting at $75,000, meaning the contract could put dozens of these machines into operation.
The robot is equipped with 360-degree cameras and sensors capable of detecting dangerous gases, in addition to being able to climb stairs and navigate uneven terrain. According to DHS, the proposal is to use the equipment for inspection, situation monitoring, and risk assessment in dangerous environments, first entering spaces where it is not exactly known what will be found. A DHS official confirmed to NBC News that the robots will not be used for effecting arrests, and Boston Dynamics maintains a policy that prohibits transforming its equipment into weapons.
The performance location listed in the procurement process is Fort Benning, Georgia, although this does not mean the use will be restricted to that region. The opening of the bidding is scheduled for early September, with a contract signed in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026 and completion on April 24, 2027. The Spot is already used by other American security forces, including the Los Angeles Police Department and the Secret Service, while a similar program in New York was canceled in 2022 after strong public backlash.
The initiative occurs amid a broader expansion of ICE operations, which recorded nearly 50,000 detentions in July, the highest monthly volume under the current administration, along with growth in the agent workforce and strengthened cooperation with state and local authorities. Shortly before, the agency had also closed a contract of up to $16.7 million for the purchase of thousands of gloves capable of applying electric shocks, also aimed at immigration operations.
