Surveillance expansionApr 1, 2026
ICE's acting director approves spyware tools to get into encrypted messages
In an April 1, 2026 letter to three House Democrats, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said he had approved "cutting-edge technological tools" against encrypted messaging in fentanyl cases. He did not name the tool. The lawmakers had asked about Graphite, phone-hacking spyware made by Paragon Solutions, and reporters connected the two.
ICE acting director Lyons's letter authorized HSI "cutting-edge technological tools" to intercept encrypted messages, citing fentanyl trafficking and foreign-terrorist-organization concerns as the stated rationale. The letter did not name Graphite; reporters identified it.
How we know: NPR's, CyberScoop's and TechCrunch's accounts of the letter read directly (Oct 3, 2026); none says the letter names Paragon or Graphite. Bloomberg first reported it.