U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is reportedly changing publication dates on old press releases to manipulate Google search results for mass deportations, as revealed in an investigation by the Guardian.
According to an immigration lawyer who chose to remain anonymous, outdated press releases from ICE are now appearing in top Google results for state-specific deportation searches, intensifying fear as federal officials mention possible ICE actions in places like schools and workplaces. Subsequently confirmed by the Guardian, a large number of ICE press releases detailing deportation operations across all states have been altered with new publication dates, some dating back to 2008.
Although the ICE website labels most of these press releases as “archived content,” they now all show a date of Jan. 24, 2025, giving the impression of a more extensive immigration sweep in line with the Trump administration’s early days.
Mashable Light Speed
Google scraps diverse hiring targets following Trump’s crusade against DEI
A spokesperson from Google responded to the Guardian, stating that search results provide various sources and information, including recent news articles. The spokesperson emphasized that the results reflect the latest update of a page and that their systems do not prioritize ranking based on updated timestamps.
Bing also showed similar search results, according to a tech expert who analyzed the situation. The expert noted that these outdated articles now appear at the top of Google and Bing search results as recent headlines, suggesting a deliberate effort to attract more clicks through misleading headlines.
President Donald Trump has vowed to intensify immigration enforcement in what he envisions as the “largest domestic deportation operation in the nation’s history,” which includes the transfer of migrant detainees to the controversial military detention camp Guantanamo Bay.
In response to Trump’s directives, Big Tech companies have complied with various demands, including changes related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies. Elon Musk, now a key figure in Trump’s administration, has taken drastic actions such as seizing government databases, laying off employees, and shutting down entire agencies in recent days.
Elon Musk killing USAID would hurt America’s future. Here’s why.
