EPIC, Coalition Urge the White House Office of Management and Budget to Halt DHS’s Harmful AI Systems

EPIC joined a coalition of over 100 organizations led by Just Futures Law to push The Office of Management and Budget to use its authority to stop the Department of Homeland Security’s use of non-conforming artificial intelligence systems. Despite an Executive Order requiring all agencies to comply with certain AI risk management practices by the end of 2024, DHS continues to use non-compliant systems to inform or make its decisions regarding surveillance, deportation, and detention.  

The coalition urges the OMB, which oversees agency compliance with the federal AI standards, to require DHS to terminate non-compliant AI systems, deny DHS’ request for extensions on meeting federal AI guidelines for systems that are fundamentally non-compliant, and enforce DHS compliance with its own AI framework as well as federal guidelines. 

This letter comes on the heels of a previous letter sent by the coalition demanding that DHS cancel its use of AI because of its failure to comply with federal guidelines. DHS’ non-compliant AI systems could be used to violate civil rights and conduct mass deportations and detentions. DHS has failed to address how it is preventing, assessing, or addressing the potential impacts of its systems.