Media Bias Fact Check (MBFC) publishes daily vetted fact checks from verified IFCN-approved sources. Each claim is independently reviewed for accuracy and context.
Claimant: Social Media
Claim: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on vehicles equipped with cell-site simulators, also known as fake cell towers, that can be used to monitor phones.
Rating: TRUE
Explanation: ICE has long used cell-site simulators, commonly called StingRays or fake cell towers. Federal contracting records from 2024 and 2025 show the agency spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on vehicles equipped with the devices, which can collect identifying and location information from nearby phones.
Date: 07/18/2026
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Last Updated on July 18, 2026 by Media Bias Fact Check