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"We are working to provide additional support for our partner's

Aug. 5, 2018 by Kenneth Newton

"We are working to provide additional support for our partner's implementation of our new systems that will enable us to integrate our current security and analytics tools with Amazon's cloud services," the email read. "For our end users, it's important for us to provide an API that allows them to access their data without having to log into the system. We will continue to develop new tools to provide the same service, but as we move forward with these changes, we will continue to explore the opportunities for these and other new solutions."

The email to the DHS recipient included a call for "more information" about how Amazon could use its "HISTORIC" AWS cloud service to create new services. The email was sent to a DHS-staff member, which was responding to a request by Amazon for information about how it might use ICE's AWS platform to provide its own "HISTORIC" Amazon HIS platform.

"The AWS platform will allow DHS to provide the AWS system to support the new ICE system and integrate into their HIS system," the email reads. "A new ICE system will allow DHS to provide the ICE system to support the ICE system and integrate into their HIS system."

After a day of back and forth, DHS finally received back a message from Amazon about the request, and that it was "still trying to figure out how to bring back the AWS system that we originally requested."

DHS officials did not respond to a request for comment from Ars.

According to a DHS press release, Amazon "has been working on a new software design to address the questions raised by Amazon's request . . . We believe the most important and effective way to bring back AWS is by creating an integrated and interoperable service that can support both ICE and Homeland Security."