ICE increases use of ankle monitors on immigrants with cases under review

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has intensified its use of electronic ankle bracelets in recent weeks to target thousands of immigrants with pending cases. The latest data released by the federal agency indicates that 29,089 migrants nationwide are currently wearing a device on their ankles. The Trump administration’s intention is to maintain intense monitoring of both detained migrants—58,766 as of the first week of September—and those who remain at large.

This is taking place against a backdrop of rising numbers of detainees and a still-slow increase in detention center capacity. While existing centers are expanding and new ones are opening in several states, expedited deportations have also been limited, making remote detainee monitoring a low-cost and effective alternative.

Foreigners often voluntarily enroll in the Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program, which for 20 years has replaced arrests with electronic monitoring that allows them to continue their immigration processes at home while maintaining a schedule of supervision by authorities. This ensures that migrants comply with their court dates and expulsion orders, whenever applicable. The total number of active migrants within the program is currently 181,401.

“ICE’s Alternatives to Detention program exists to ensure compliance with release conditions and provides important case management services for non-detained aliens,” the agency’s website states.

The so-called “digital cage”

The government typically tracks registered migrants through the mandatory use of electronic bracelets or shackles, or through a mobile app. This allows them to send images, register with federal agency officials, and access calendars with information about their upcoming court dates. Official data indicates that the total number of foreigners monitored through the SmartLINK app was 148,717 as of early September. All of these devices use satellite GPS technology.

Since Donald Trump returned to power, ICE has increased the number of migrants with devices to monitor their whereabouts. In El Paso, Texas, the number of migrants with electronic ankle bracelets is double that of those with the mobile app; but in Harlingen, the opposite is true. There, the number of people monitored with trackers represents half of the current number with SmartLINK applications.

The bracelets feature software that enables facial recognition, direct messaging, and push notifications, according to ICE. A total of 2,547 immigrants are monitored with such devices.

Immigrant advocacy organizations and activists argue that this type of practice creates a “digital cage” for foreigners and is a way to offset the costs of the anti-immigrant crusade driven by Washington. The daily cost per participant in the ATD program is less than $4.20 per day (significantly lower than the $152 for an immigrant held in a detention center). In total, more than $230,000 is spent on technological monitoring of immigrants, according to ICE data.

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