In a powerful push for human rights and fairness, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), alongside more than 140 other advocacy groups, has called for an immediate halt to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in immigration decision-making. This collective plea, which includes organizations from various sectors, is aimed at addressing concerns over the fairness, transparency, and potential for bias in AI-driven immigration processes.
The letter, sent to both U.S. policymakers and relevant authorities, advocates for the complete cessation of AI applications in determining key immigration outcomes—such as visa approvals, asylum claims, and deportation decisions. These groups have raised alarms about the serious risks of AI technologies in one of the most sensitive areas of public policy, arguing that automated systems may not only perpetuate systemic inequalities but also violate individuals’ civil rights.
The Growing Use of AI in Immigration Decisions
The use of AI technologies in immigration procedures has been expanding in recent years. Governments, including that of the United States, have increasingly turned to AI to help streamline and expedite decision-making in an array of areas, from vetting applicants to assessing the likelihood of asylum seekers’ success in their claims. AI tools, which often rely on machine learning algorithms, are capable of analyzing large datasets to provide insights or recommendations for officials.
While these technologies are marketed as ways to improve efficiency and reduce human error, experts have raised significant concerns about their use in highly sensitive areas such as immigration. AI systems may rely on biased data, perpetuating existing social inequalities, and may lack transparency, leaving individuals unaware of how decisions about their futures are being made.
The growing use of AI in immigration has the potential to undermine the fundamental fairness of the process, as well as the trust that individuals place in public institutions to handle their cases with impartiality.
Why AI in Immigration Decisions is Problematic
There are several reasons why AI-driven immigration decisions are particularly concerning:
- Bias in AI Algorithms: One of the most significant concerns is the inherent risk of bias in AI systems. Machine learning algorithms often rely on historical data, which may reflect systemic biases present in past immigration decisions. For example, the data used to train these AI systems may disproportionately reflect the racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic biases of past immigration policies or enforcement practices. This could result in AI systems that unfairly disadvantage certain groups, leading to discriminatory outcomes in visa issuance, asylum approval, or deportation decisions.
- Lack of Transparency: AI algorithms are often seen as “black boxes”—their decision-making processes are not easily understood by humans. In the context of immigration, this lack of transparency is a significant concern. Individuals whose cases are subject to AI-driven decisions may not have the ability to understand how or why decisions are made, and may not be able to challenge decisions effectively. Without transparency, there is no clear accountability, which undermines trust in the system and leaves individuals at the mercy of algorithms whose inner workings are shrouded in secrecy.
- Dehumanization of Immigrants: Immigration decisions are deeply personal, affecting people’s lives, families, and futures. The push for AI to make such decisions raises concerns about the dehumanization of immigrants. AI systems lack the capacity for empathy, context, and understanding of the full complexity of human experiences. Using AI to determine the fate of an individual’s immigration status risks overlooking nuanced factors such as the specific circumstances of a person’s case, their family connections, or the broader context of their situation.
- Security and Privacy Risks: AI systems in immigration could also pose significant security and privacy risks. AI requires large amounts of data to operate effectively, and the sensitive nature of immigration information—ranging from personal identification data to potentially highly sensitive family and legal details—raises concerns about the protection of privacy and the risk of data breaches or misuse.
- Accountability Issues: When AI systems make decisions, the accountability for those decisions can become blurred. Who is responsible if an AI system makes a biased or incorrect decision? In many cases, there is no clear legal or human accountability, which can make it difficult for individuals to seek redress or challenge unjust decisions.
The Call to Action: A Coalition for Fairness
The letter, led by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and supported by over 140 organizations, calls on lawmakers to intervene and halt the use of AI in immigration decisions. The coalition argues that using AI in such critical and life-altering processes contradicts fundamental principles of justice and fairness.
The signatories include human rights groups, civil liberties organizations, legal advocacy groups, and tech policy experts. They are united by a common goal: to ensure that immigration decisions are made with the utmost care, consideration, and human oversight—values that cannot be upheld by automated systems alone.
The letter emphasizes several key points:
- AI Should Not Be Used to Determine Immigration Outcomes: The coalition advocates for a human-centered approach to immigration, where decisions are made by qualified officials who can consider the unique context of each case. AI, they argue, should never be allowed to override human judgment in life-and-death matters like immigration status, deportation, or asylum claims.
- Transparency and Accountability in Immigration Decisions: Immigration decisions should be transparent, understandable, and accountable. People whose lives are affected by immigration processes should be able to comprehend how decisions are made and have access to a fair process to appeal or contest decisions when necessary.
- Human Rights Should Be Protected: Immigration systems must be fair and equitable, with a focus on the dignity and rights of individuals. The use of AI, the coalition argues, threatens to undermine the fundamental human rights of immigrants, especially if it leads to discriminatory or unjust outcomes.
- Investing in Alternatives: Rather than relying on AI to make life-altering decisions, the letter urges the adoption of alternative approaches that prioritize fairness, empathy, and human rights. This could include improving the training of immigration officers, enhancing transparency in decision-making processes, and ensuring the availability of due process and legal assistance for individuals seeking immigration status.
The Future of AI in Immigration Policy
The debate around the use of AI in immigration decisions is part of a broader conversation about the role of technology in government decision-making. As AI continues to permeate various sectors, it is increasingly important to critically assess its ethical implications, especially when it comes to areas like immigration where the stakes are incredibly high.
The call from EFF and other organizations is a reminder that technology should serve to empower individuals, not diminish their rights. As AI becomes more advanced, the need for clear regulations, ethical guidelines, and oversight becomes even more pressing.
Governments must listen to the concerns raised by civil society groups and ensure that immigration decisions are made with the dignity, transparency, and fairness that all people deserve, regardless of their immigration status.
Conclusion
The coalition of over 140 organizations calling for an end to the use of AI in immigration decisions is sending a clear message: when it comes to matters of human rights, fairness, and justice, AI should not be the final arbiter. The growing concerns about bias, lack of transparency, and the dehumanization of individuals in immigration processes should prompt policymakers to reconsider the role of automated systems in such critical decisions. As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of integrating AI into public policy, the emphasis must always remain on protecting the rights and dignity of every individual, regardless of their background or immigration status.
