Early this year, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spent $825,000 on vehicles equipped with cell-site simulators—surveillance devices that mimic mobile phone towers to identify and monitor phones nearby. These units were provided by Maryland-based TechOps Specialty Vehicles (TOSV), a company with an ongoing contract relationship with ICE since 2024.
TOSV integrates these cell-site simulators, also known as IMSI catchers or “stingrays,” into specialised vehicles but does not manufacture the electronic components themselves. The devices trick mobile phones into connecting, allowing authorities to pinpoint their location and, in some cases, intercept calls and messages. This technology offers much more precise real-time tracking compared to traditional cell tower data.
ICE has used this surveillance method extensively for years, with records showing hundreds of deployments between 2013 and 2019. However, the use of such devices remains controversial due to privacy concerns and frequent lack of warrants. ICE has not disclosed details about when or where these vehicles are deployed or if warrants are consistently obtained.
TOSV produces a variety of law enforcement vehicles, including mobile forensic labs and command vans suitable for surveillance missions, although it is unclear which specifically house cell-site simulators. Besides law enforcement, the company also supplies vehicles for medical services, fire departments, and community outreach.
The widespread deployment of cell-site simulators raises privacy and civil liberty issues. Critics warn that these devices can capture data from innocent people and operate largely without oversight. Legislative efforts like the Cell-Site Simulator Warrant Act of 2025 aim to require judicial authorisation before such surveillance tools can be used.