Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is reportedly expanding its use of GPS ankle monitors, ordering agents to equip nearly 160,000 immigrants with the devices. This directive, detailed in a June 9 memorandum reviewed by the Washington Post, aims to track, detain, and potentially deport individuals enrolled in the agency's Alternatives to Detention (ATD) programs.
The memo emphasizes prioritizing GPS monitoring for ATD participants “whenever possible.” According to the Post, Dawnisha M. Helland, acting assistant director in the management of non-detained immigrants, stated that supervision levels should be escalated to GPS ankle monitors and reporting requirements increased if an individual isn't being arrested at the time of reporting.
Critics argue that the use of GPS monitors is not about public safety, but rather a tactic to humiliate and intimidate immigrants, many of whom are awaiting court cases or asylum claim adjudications. Some compare it to historical forms of oppression, highlighting the invasive nature of the trackers.
The Washington Post also reported that pregnant women are an exception, and will be made to wear wrist monitors instead.
Electronic monitoring (EM) by ICE has significantly increased over the past two decades, according to a 2024 report from the Vera Institute of Justice. This report analyzes data from legal systems across the US, federal courts, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and ICE.
Advocates have long criticized these programs, denouncing GPS ankle monitors as “digital shackles.” They argue that these programs constitute digital prisons, raising concerns about privacy violations and the mass collection of personal data by ICE.
The increased use of GPS ankle monitors coincides with other immigration-related challenges. Recently, an Afghan interpreter who aided U.S. troops in Afghanistan was detained by federal agents after an appointment related to his green card application. This incident underscores the precarious situation faced by many Afghans who were granted humanitarian parole by the Biden administration but now face potential deportation.
Furthermore, a federal appeals court's decision to uphold the Trump administration's termination of temporary protected status for Afghans has put thousands more at risk of deportation, adding to the complexities and anxieties within the immigrant community.