Robot dogs from the Waltham-based manufacturer Boston Dynamics may soon assist federal immigration agents as part of a proposed deal worth at least $1 million.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement intends to contract with Boston Dynamics for the company’s dog-like robot called Spot to “support public safety and law enforcement operations,” according to a Thursday procurement forecast announcement by the Department of Homeland Security.
The announcement, first reported by 404 Media, estimates the purchase would cost between $1 million to $2 million, although it does not disclose how many robots ICE intends to procure. The robots, per the announcement, will provide “a remotely operated robotic capability for inspection, situational awareness, and hazard assessment in environments that may pose risks to personnel.”
“This capability helps improve officer safety, supports informed operational decision-making, and enhances DHS’s ability to respond to incidents involving dangerous, confined, unstable, or difficult-to-access areas,” the announcement said.
This forecasted procurement comes as ICE continues to ramp up its deportation efforts across the country. In July, ICE arrests spiked to nearly 50,000, the highest monthly total of President Trump’s second term, the Associated Press reported.
ICE is now the highest-funded US law enforcement agency, with about $113 billion at its disposal through 2029. While its base annual budget is about $10 billion, the Trump administration awarded it nearly $75 billion in July of 2025 and $38 billion in June’s reconciliation bill.
With accelerating operations, ICE is spending millions on contracts. On Thursday, the AP reported that ICE has awarded a $16.7 million contract for 6,000 pairs of gloves capable of delivering electric shocks.
A Boston Dynamics spokesperson said in a statement the company “sells to many government agencies and public safety organizations and the robots are used to keep people out of harm’s way and aid first responders in assessing dangerous situations.”
An ICE spokesperson said in a statement the robot dogs will be “an additional tool to safely assess potentially dangerous situations before placing personnel or the public at risk. ... This technology does not replace law enforcement officers or their judgment—it simply provides another option to help protect officers and the communities they serve.”
Boston Dynamics is famous for its viral YouTube videos showing its fleet of robots maneuvering across obstacles, climbing stairs, opening doors, and, sometimes, dancing. Spot, the robot dog, which starts at around $75,000 per unit, can be furnished with a 360-degree live-feed camera, a robotic arm, and other industry-specific add-ons.
In recent years, Spot has been deployed by law enforcement agencies in intense scenarios, including armed standoffs, hostage rescues, and bomb investigations. In 2024, for example, Spot assisted Massachusetts State Police during a seven-hour standoff in Hyannis, in which the suspect shot and damaged the robot. Police later credited the robot with reducing risk to the officers.
The use of robot dogs by law enforcement agencies has also raised ethical concerns about oversight and the risks of deploying military-grade tools in civilian settings. New York City in 2021 suspended its use of Spot following public outcry; it brought back the metallic canines in 2023.
Matthew Guariglia, senior policy analyst at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a civil liberties group, said that using robots could reduce fear among ICE agents and potentially embolden them to escalate to violence in operations.
“They might be willing to be more reckless with raids on individuals’ homes if the first person through to kick the door is a robot, not a human,” he said.
Boston Dynamics is one of a handful of robotics companies that has pledged not to add weapons to their automated and remotely controlled devices, a promise the company made in 2022. And in May, the Massachusetts House overwhelmingly approved legislation that would prohibit weaponizing robots. The bill has remained before the Senate Ways and Means Committee since May and has not reached the Senate floor.
“We will not authorize nor partner with those who wish to use our robots as weapons or autonomous targeting systems,” Boston Dynamics said on its website. “If our products are being used for harm, we will take appropriate measures to mitigate that misuse.”
The ICE forecast does not detail what add-ons it intends to attach to the robots, but the Boston Dynamics spokesperson emphasized that “any attempted weaponization of Boston Dynamics’ robots is strictly prohibited.”
But weaponization, Guariglia said, goes beyond add-ons, and is rooted in how the technology is used.
“These robots ... can be redeployed for tasks which are harmful or dangerous, either to civil liberties or bodily safety of people,” he said.
Boston Dynamics, which is owned by the South Korean auto manufacturer Hyundai, announced in June plans to build a $100 million manufacturing facility in Waltham that would consolidate manufacturing of its robot dogs, humanoid robots, and warehouse robots.
The state is helping finance the expansion through $25 million in tax credits. The company’s chief executive, Robert Playter, who helped commercialize its innovation efforts, stepped down from his role earlier this year. Amanda McMaster took over as interim CEO.
Yogev Toby can be reached at yogev.toby@globe.com.