Comment by jMyles
Cynically, I imagine that a more difficult and less accurate system is desirable insofar as it can launder criminal behavior as computer error and absolve the perpetrator of whatever kidnapping / assault charges they might otherwise face.
Ostensibly, if ICE are acting within the scope of their duties, there are limits to the ways in which they can be charged with violations of state laws. An baroque system of identification allows them to claim they were acting in that scope.
In this way, it is perhaps similar to the widespread acceptance of drug-sniffing dogs which are no better than a coin flip (see Florida v. Harris, for example), and which can be trained to signal whether drugs are present or not.
Correct, they're not trying to be accurate. They're using methods that they know to be inaccurate against minorities to get probable cause enough to arrest and deport them. If there's an issue, if they are wrong, if they violate someone's civil liberties so what? The point is deport them by any means necessary, because when they're gone they can't fight back. The Supreme Court said racial profiling is okay as long as it's done with some other factors. They are telegraphing as long as there is some amount of "process" even if it's theatre, racially profiling is fine as far as SCOTUS is concerned.