BREAKING: ICE Denies Use of “Color Calibration Tool” Is Just a Laminated Paint Swatch

A leaked training photo has sparked new controversy for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after whistleblowers revealed the agency's “Visual Identity Calibration Tool” bears an uncanny resemblance to a laminated paint swatch — complete with a red line and multiple shades from beige to brown.

The document, internally referred to as VIC-T Card 1A, was reportedly distributed as part of ICE’s rapid processing initiative designed to "visually assess probable citizenship status in the field." ICE officials have firmly denied any racial intent, calling the VIC-T card a “non-invasive visual alignment aid” meant to streamline data collection in low-light situations.

“This is not profiling,” said ICE spokesperson Maria Delmonte. “This is calibrated spectrum analysis. We’re simply matching field observations to a DHS-approved gradient. It’s science.”

The tool drew immediate backlash after agents were seen holding the VIC-T card next to individuals during a roadside checkpoint near El Paso. The photo — eerily reminiscent of a 2009 Family Guy episode — was leaked by an internal compliance officer who called the entire initiative “a color-coded disaster wrapped in plausible deniability.”

According to internal memos reviewed by Leak-Social, VIC-T was developed in partnership with a private contractor that also produces hardware for TSA “behavior detection zones” and Department of Agriculture livestock scanners.

One anonymous agent admitted the tool created confusion in the field:

“We had a guy from Bakersfield flagged ‘Tier 3’ because he was tanned from roofing work. It’s a mess.”

Despite this, ICE maintains the VIC-T tool increases operational efficiency by 42% and is being evaluated for cross-agency deployment, including pilot use in passport control and census fieldwork.

Mainstream media has yet to address the controversy. The Washington Chronicle ran a story today on “How Beige Became Spring’s Breakout Color.”