Thomson Reuters provides personal data, including details like SSNs, phone records, and motor vehicle registrations, through its CLEAR brand to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This data feeds into Palantir's systems, such as ELITE, which allegedly generates 'confidence scores' on specific addresses to pinpoint potential deportation targets.

The conflict erupts over stated policy versus operational use. Thomson Reuters issued an internal directive prohibiting CLEAR's use to locate undocumented immigrants who haven't committed crimes. However, DHS procurement documents argue the same data is "vital to the mission-essential, time sensitive investigative work." On the ground, ICE officials allegedly used ELITE to detain over 30 people, which legal observers labeled a "dragnet" operation.

The consensus points to a major operational conflict. Companies claim restrictions while department documents mandate unrestricted access. The core fault line is the contradiction between internal corporate policy and active government deployment, suggesting the technology facilitates broad surveillance capacity regardless of stated ethical lines.