Your Algorithm is Rigged! Unrigging ICE's Risk Classification Assessment Tool
Event Type
Research Presentation
Academic Department
Mathematics and Statistics
Location
Dana Science Building, 2nd floor
Start Date
26-4-2024 1:30 PM
End Date
26-4-2024 3:00 PM
Description
Under the direction of Dr. Molly Lynch
In today’s rapidly advancing technological landscape, the reliance on algorithms for decisionmaking has become increasingly prominent. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) employs the Risk Classification Assessment Tool (RCAT) to determine the fate of immigrants, including whether they should be released on bond, detained in ICE facilities, or referred to a supervising officer for further consideration. However, concerns have been raised regarding the fairness and transparency of the RCAT algorithm, particularly after it was revealed that ICE manipulated the algorithm in 2017, resulting in significant changes to immigration detention and release decisions. This project aims to address this issue by modifying the current RCAT algorithm while upholding principles of algorithmic fairness. This project holds significance in shedding light on the intersection of technology, ethics, and immigration policy, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability in algorithmic systems that have profound implications for thousands of lives. Through our research, we strive to contribute to the ongoing discourse on algorithmic fairness and its role in shaping immigration policies and practices.
Your Algorithm is Rigged! Unrigging ICE's Risk Classification Assessment Tool
Dana Science Building, 2nd floor
Under the direction of Dr. Molly Lynch
In today’s rapidly advancing technological landscape, the reliance on algorithms for decisionmaking has become increasingly prominent. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) employs the Risk Classification Assessment Tool (RCAT) to determine the fate of immigrants, including whether they should be released on bond, detained in ICE facilities, or referred to a supervising officer for further consideration. However, concerns have been raised regarding the fairness and transparency of the RCAT algorithm, particularly after it was revealed that ICE manipulated the algorithm in 2017, resulting in significant changes to immigration detention and release decisions. This project aims to address this issue by modifying the current RCAT algorithm while upholding principles of algorithmic fairness. This project holds significance in shedding light on the intersection of technology, ethics, and immigration policy, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability in algorithmic systems that have profound implications for thousands of lives. Through our research, we strive to contribute to the ongoing discourse on algorithmic fairness and its role in shaping immigration policies and practices.