Jul 3, 2025
The Senate version of H.R. 1—dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill”—marks a dramatic expansion of biometric surveillance infrastructure under what would be a second Trump administration. According to Biometric Update, a news site focused on digital and biometric technology, the 940-page bill goes far beyond budget allocations. It charts an aggressive trajectory toward a nationwide biometric surveillance state, blending AI technology, immigration enforcement, and facial recognition tools into a powerful federal apparatus. The bill, which passed the Senate on July 1 and now returns to the House for reconciliation, allocates over $175 billion in immigration-related funding for FY2025 alone. Nearly $30 billion is earmarked for ICE operations, including $2.5 billion specifically for AI systems, facial recognition, and digital case tracking—an unprecedented investment in surveillance technology.
While promoted as an immigration enforcement measure, critics warn the bill’s scope extends far beyond the border. DHS officials indicate plans to integrate mobile biometric tools and AI-driven risk scoring into routine enforcement, while facial recognition systems and surveillance towers are already appearing across American cities. In Georgia, for example, roadside cameras and surveillance towers are rising as trees along highways are removed—seemingly to provide clearer visibility for monitoring vehicles and pedestrians. This isn’t just about tracking illegal immigrants. It’s about tracking everyone. Even more troubling is a provision imposing a 10-year moratorium on state-level biometric privacy laws—essentially coercing states to surrender civil liberties in exchange for federal funding. With minimal oversight, critics argue the bill sets the stage for a fully integrated, AI-driven surveillance grid—placing America on the brink of an Orwellian future disguised as national security.
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SOURCE: Leo Hohmann Substack