The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is allegedly analyzing Americans' financial data to conduct traffic stops of drivers, some of whom were never flagged of committing any crimes.
DHS is allegedly conducting operations through a U.S. Border Patrol program that feeds intelligence to local police who then pull drivers over, according to an investigation by 404 Media, a news technology outlet.
The units are reportedly called Predictive Intelligence Targeting Teams, or PITT, revealing the program's name for the first time. They are allegedly run by Border Patrol, part of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) within the DHS framework, according to the report.
Military.com reached out to DHS and CBP with questions about the program, including what financial data the teams review, whether the agency seeks a warrant before accessing Americans' financial records, whether a person must be suspected of a specific crime before a stop, and whether the financial data of service members, veterans or their families can be swept into the analyses.
“The U.S. Border Patrol utilizes intelligence-informed analysis to enhance national security, optimize resource allocation, and identify threats to public safety," a CBP spokesperson told Military.com. "A key component of this effort is the Predictive Intelligence Targeting Team (PITT) within the Border Patrol, which monitors indicators of potential smuggling and other criminal activity. Utilization of predictive intelligence is not unique to the Border Patrol; it’s used by other law enforcement organizations, too.
The spokesperson added that PITT "operates in strict accordance with all applicable laws, privacy protections, and oversight mandates."
It also addressed reports such as those from 404, saying that PITT’s intelligence-led functions are focused on securing the border and identifying high-risk threats.
"For operational security, we do not disclose specific analytical methods, targeting criteria, or investigative techniques," they added. "Public release of law enforcement sensitive information could compromise ongoing operations, jeopardize investigations, and create significant safety risks for our agents and the public.”
Two Sectors Investigated
404 identified one team in the Spokane Sector in Washington, which patrols the border with Canada, and another in the Laredo Sector in Texas, along the border with Mexico.
The teams review financial records and other data, and then pass leads to local law enforcement.
The program's stated purpose is to identify people who may have already committed crimes, according to 404 Media. But the outlet reported finding no instances of that happening.
Instead, it reported that the program appears to generate pretexts for police to stop and search people, raising questions about whether the stops meet the legal standard of probable cause.
One Stop Exposed the Program
The program reportedly surfaced through the case of Kyle Olson, who was driving across Montana when he was pulled over.
A Border Patrol targeting analyst named Matthew Phelps had flagged what a Homeland Security document described as "financial activity patterns commonly associated with illicit narcotics activity" and relayed it to the Montana Highway Patrol, the outlet reported.
Troopers stopped Olson, citing that his license plate was obstructed. He was charged with driving under the influence and later with possession with intent to distribute after marijuana was found in his vehicle.
The reason for the stop emerged during the discovery phase of his case, when Olson received a DHS document explaining that Border Patrol instigated it. He shared that document with 404 Media, which is how the program and subsequent reporting came to light.
What the Government Has Said
A CBP spokesperson told 404 Media that "U.S. Border Patrol uses intelligence-informed analysis and planning to support national security operations, allocate resources, and help identify potential threats and bad actors to public safety."
The agency declined to tell the outlet what financial activity it monitors or whether it had obtained a warrant before analyzing Olson's records.
Civil liberties advocates have raised alarms.
Jake Laperruque, deputy director of the Security and Surveillance Project at the Center for Democracy and Technology, told 404 Media that "genuine probable cause cannot be synthetically generated," adding that Border Patrol appeared to be using "parallel construction" to conceal the real reason for its stops.
Military.com reported last month that DHS had collected the DNA of some 3.3 million people, including U.S. citizens, for an FBI database. Critics say this program could enable broad genetic policing.
The findings build on a broader pattern of federal data collection that has drawn scrutiny.
A 2025 Associated Press investigation found Border Patrol using automatic license plate readers as part of the same predictive-policing effort.
UPDATED 11:50 a.m. ET, 9/10/26: This story was updated with remarks from CBP.
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