Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) more than tripled its data stored in Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform in six months leading to January 2026. This boost matches a large budget rise and faster hiring as ICE increased arrest and deportation efforts. Leaked documents reveal ICE uses Microsoft productivity apps and AI tools to search and analyze data on Azure. Some ICE systems may run directly on Microsoft servers. The files were shared with the Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call. They raise questions about whether Microsoft tech aids an immigration crackdown amid accusations of unlawful operations by ICE. ICE’s enforcement grew sharply under the Trump administration’s mass deportation push. In July, ICE’s budget rose by $7.5 billion, making it the best-funded US law enforcement group. With new funds, ICE spent heavily on technology, contracting firms like Palantir and others. The agency uses facial recognition, phone tracking, drones, spyware, and now expanded cloud computing. Amazon and Microsoft, long-time suppliers, won contracts worth millions through third parties. The files show ICE used Azure’s “blob storage” for raw data and AI tools to analyze images, videos, and text. By January, ICE held nearly 1,400 terabytes in Azure, up from 400 terabytes in July 2025. That data volume equals roughly 490 million images if it were all photos. ICE also rented high-powered virtual machines on Azure to run software remotely. Since January 2025, ICE doubled its workforce and increased use of Microsoft’s office and AI chatbot apps. It's unclear if Azure stores data from surveillance tools or supports operations like detention centers or deportation flights. ICE did not reply to requests for comment. Microsoft said it supplies cloud productivity tools to DHS and ICE through partners but states their tech policies forbid mass civilian surveillance. A Microsoft spokesperson said, "There are currently many public issues relating to immigration enforcement, and we believe Congress, the executive branch, and the courts have the opportunity to draw clear legal lines regarding the allowable use of emerging technologies by law enforcement." Inside Microsoft, some employees raised ethical concerns about ICE contracts. In December 2025, Microsoft said it did not hold contracts supporting immigration enforcement but later clarified it has contracts with ICE and DHS excluding AI services directly tied to enforcement. Other tech giants face similar employee protests over work with immigration agencies. Last week, Amazon staff protested to cut ties with ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Google workers also petitioned against supporting these agencies, citing civil and human rights violations.