ICE-Domestic Militarization Watch
Welcome to the Domestic Militarization Watch
The Domestic Militarization Watch (DMW) is an initiative of the Peace Economy Project (PEP) dedicated to monitoring how military practices, spending, and ideologies increasingly shape everyday life across the United States. As the lines between policing, military operations, and local governance continue to blur, DMW works to illuminate how these shifts affect civil liberties, community resources, and democratic accountability.
Grounded in research and driven by advocacy, our mission is to track, analyze, and challenge the growing militarization of American life. By documenting the use of military equipment, personnel, and surveillance technologies in domestic contexts, we push for a reinvestment of public resources into strategies that strengthen community wellbeing rather than undermine it.
Explore our work, learn from our findings, and join us in advancing a safer, more just, and truly democratic future.
Brief series
This section offers concise briefs that break down key issues driving domestic militarization in the U.S. Each brief simplifies complex topics—like policing tactics, surveillance, and federal-local cooperation—into clear, research-based insights to help readers understand emerging trends.
Tracker
This section provides a clear, case-by-case look at domestic militarization, including National Guard deployments, ICE raids, SWAT actions, 1033 use, protest responses, and surveillance. Each entry offers a brief summary, legal basis, outcomes, and civil liberties concerns, giving readers a concise, evidence-based record.