ICE Awards Contract to Expand DNA Testing Program

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has granted a contract worth $10.1 million to expand a rapid DNA testing initiative. This program is designed to confirm family relationships during immigration enforcement operations. According to federal records, the one-year contract was awarded to Virginia-based SNA International LLC, beginning August 10 and ending August 9, 2027. The support for ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) field offices is highlighted in the contract’s description.

ERO, a division of ICE, manages immigration arrests, detentions, and removals. The government outlines that this task order supplies rapid DNA tests, equipment, and services to verify biological relatives in ERO field offices.

Civil liberties and immigrant advocacy groups have expressed concerns about genetic testing in immigration enforcement. The issues mainly revolve around privacy and the handling of non-biological family relationships. Stevie Glaberson, director of research and advocacy at Georgetown Law’s Center on Privacy & Technology, shared that many individuals do not understand the reasons behind DNA collection or its purpose. Glaberson emphasized that DNA is unique among biometric identifiers as it reveals information about family members across generations.

Newsweek reached out to ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comments. Steve Niezgoda, CEO of SNA International, stated that the company does not publicly discuss details of government programs.

Scott Mechkowski, who retired in 2018 as ICE’s deputy field office director for ERO in New York, mentioned that rapid DNA testing is not a new tool in immigration enforcement. It has been used for years to confirm family relationships, ensuring those claiming to be guardians are verified.

The recent contract follows a $6.24 million contract issued in 2025 for similar purposes. Combined, these contracts represent over $16 million in federal expenditures linked to the program, as per USAspending.gov.

The rapid DNA initiative originated from research conducted by SNA for DHS under the Small Business Innovation Research program. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the goal was to implement a rapid DNA testing program to identify fraudulent family claims by individuals entering the United States. The requirements included DNA testing equipment, kits, software, technical support, and training.

SNA received a DHS research contract in 2019 to develop a DNA “reach-back” system for supporting rapid DNA testing in the field. A subsequent 2020 contract further developed technology, including software called DNAConnect and a support center for rapid DNA system users.

ICE later expanded the work into a larger operational program, awarding SNA a sole-source Phase III contract. Competing forensic company Bode Technology challenged the procurement, arguing improper structuring by ICE. However, the GAO ruled in favor of ICE, stating that the program “derives from, extends, or completes” SNA’s earlier research.

The contract has a two-year ordering period, allowing ICE to issue additional task orders. It is intended for the acquisition of rapid DNA tests, equipment, and services to verify biological relatives in ERO field offices.

Award records and GAO decisions do not specify policies related to consent, sample collection, or genetic information use. The procedures when tests fail to confirm claimed biological relationships are also not detailed.

For further inquiries, Newsweek editors Matthew Cannon and Dave Siminoff are available for contact.