Laura Berlin, a Texas mother and nonprofit communications professional, created an interactive online map highlighting companies that contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), drawing both national attention and scrutiny from federal authorities. The database, titled “Who is Profiting from ICE?”, identifies contractors across the United States involved in enforcing immigration policies under the Trump administration, particularly focusing on firms providing services related to detention and deportation.

Berlin began her research in April 2025 after witnessing images of immigration agents detaining individuals and transporting them to prisons in Latin America without clear due process. Seeking to understand which corporations financially benefit from these operations, she used public records and corporate filings to document the web of government contractors. Key companies identified include GEO Group and CoreCivic, which together received nearly $1 billion in contracts during the administration’s first year. These firms supply detention center staff, beds, and monitoring devices for detainees.

A significant finding was Citizens Bank’s continued financial relationship with these contractors, despite Wells Fargo and Bank of America having cut ties. Berlin published her findings online at boycott-citizens.org, including a detailed Google Map of companies and officials linked to ICE. Initially attracting limited interest, the site gained widespread traction after organizers in Boston used it to launch the De-ICE Citizens Bank Coalition. This group coordinated protests calling on Citizens Bank to sever financing ties with the detention companies. The movement expanded nationally following incidents of fatal shootings involving Border Patrol agents in January 2026, driving traffic to Berlin’s site from a few thousand to nearly 10 million visits.

By mid-2026, protests against Citizens Bank proliferated across 17 states, prompting major financial withdrawals totaling $25 million from customers, including significant divestitures by Jersey City and Montclair. Facing mounting pressure, the bank announced plans to end its relationships with GEO Group and CoreCivic, though it characterized the decision as a business move rather than a politically motivated response. CoreCivic, meanwhile, sold two detention facilities back to the Department of Homeland Security, reducing its need for credit.

The Trump administration’s Office of the Comptroller of the Currency previously issued guidance warning banks against cutting ties with certain industries, including private prisons, underscoring tensions in the financial sector around such contracts. Berlin’s work extended beyond detention center contractors; she mapped ICE contracts involving other major corporations such as AT&T, Comcast, Dell, Deloitte, FedEx, Motorola, and Palantir.

Her efforts attracted attention from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which issued a classified intelligence bulletin warning law enforcement agencies about the potential for “anarchist extremists” to escalate protests connected to Berlin’s website. The bulletin flagged her project under a domestic terrorism code historically reserved for violent threats, despite acknowledging that some activities mapped were protected under the First Amendment. Berlin expressed surprise and frustration at being labeled a security threat for what she described as transparency and lawful activism.

DHS officials declined to comment on the specific warning but emphasized that such bulletins are intended to provide situational awareness and do not classify lawful protests as criminal. Civil liberties advocates argue that the government’s approach conflates dissent with extremism, potentially chilling free speech.

Beyond corporate exposure, Berlin’s database also tracks political donations from major ICE contractors to more than 450 candidates nationwide, spanning both major parties. Contributions were found at every level, from local committees to presidential campaigns. Companies like GEO Group and CoreCivic reported spending millions on federal, state, and local elections to support candidates they view as aligned with their interests. The database includes prominent figures such as President Donald Trump, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Alabama Senator Katie Britt, and several Democrats, underscoring the bipartisan reach of industry influence.

Advocates warn that private prison companies increasingly rely on political connections to secure and maintain government contracts. Meanwhile, Berlin remains committed to expanding her research. Her current focus includes companies providing data analytics tools used by immigration authorities to identify and locate immigrants.

Berlin described her motivations as deeply personal. With two children of Guatemalan descent, she has witnessed the different realities faced by people of color in the United States. “I’d be lying if I said I’m not angry,” she said. Despite government opposition, she affirmed her conviction that her work is protected free speech aimed at fostering accountability and reform in immigration enforcement.