exclusive: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has ended two programs that provided social services to illegal immigrants released into the U.S. interior, one program resulting in “enormous costs with little improvement” and the other hindering ICE’s mission. I said it was inconsistent.
The agency sent a letter to ICE in May requesting more information about its “alternatives to detention” program, which monitors illegal immigrants who are not in ICE custody, according to Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla. Representatives and 15 members of the House of Representatives responded. The agency defended the program, calling it an “efficient and effective” program to monitor some illegal immigrants on ICE’s non-detainer list.
ICE only has about 40,000 beds available at any one time, while there are nearly 7.7 million people not in custody. These numbers have skyrocketed during the Biden administration. Of those, more than 181,000 are enrolled in the Alternatives to Detention Monitoring program, which monitors migrants through app check-in or GPS monitors.
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This photo shows migrants encountered at the southern border in Arizona. (US Border Patrol)
But in recent years, the agency has also created separate programs to provide a variety of services and support to people outside of detention. In the letter, the agency said some of its programs are ending. One is the Wraparound Stabilization Service (WSS), which ICE launched in February 2020 and partners with NGOs to provide “services that provide psychosocial and behavioral health support to vulnerable participants and their families who would benefit from additional stabilization services.” He said he would.
ICE stopped referrals in July and said the program was not effective in what it was intended to do, with compliance rates only 2% higher for people who engaged in services compared to those who did not.
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“ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) notes that the problem with WSS was its enormous cost with little improvement,” he says. “As a result, ERO determined that WSS was not cost-effective enough to continue paying for these services if they did not benefit ICE or assist the agency in carrying out its mission.”
ICE has previously cited difficulties with the program, including a cumbersome identification and referral process, significant participant growth, and a lack of resources.
For more information on the border security crisis, click here.
Migrants wait in line to enter a shelter set up by authorities for immigrants while they wait for an appointment through an application form with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, May 23, 2023. (Christian Torres Chavez/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
The agency also said it decided in June not to continue its Young Adult Case Management (YACMP) program vendor contract. The program provided 18- and 19-year-old immigrants with legal services, prosecutors, referrals to social services programs, and human trafficking screenings. Launched in 2023, it has expanded into 16 cities.
“In addition to financial limitations, our review of the program found that YACMP was not consistent with ERO’s mission or priorities, which meant ERO took steps to realign or discontinue use of the program to address the budget challenges facing the agency.” the agency’s letter says. .
The letter also provided information about ATD tracking operations via an app or GPS, known as the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP). ICE found that 98.6% of those subject to court tracing showed up for the full court hearing, and 90.4% showed up for the final hearing. As of September, 13.2% of participants were being tracked via GPS ankle or wrist devices, and the average duration of the program was 511.9 days.
Lawmakers also asked about people who were charged with or convicted of a crime while registered with ATD. In fiscal year 2024, there will be 3,913 charges filed against people who participated in the program, including 10 sex offense convictions, 364 traffic violation convictions, two murder convictions, four kidnapping convictions and 65 assault convictions, according to the agency. and 688 convictions.
The incoming Trump administration is expected to see a significant increase in deportations, with the president-elect promising a “historic” mass deportation operation. Fox Digital also reported this month that it wants to reduce the number of people out of custody while also increasing the use of ankle monitors for those who cannot be detained.
Conservatives responded to the information provided to lawmakers by calling on the new administration to eliminate more programs that provide services for illegal immigrants.
“ICE is a law enforcement agency, not a charity. The billions of dollars DHS has wasted bringing millions of illegal aliens into the country and providing them with excessive accommodations should be used to safely return all illegal aliens to their home countries. “said Lora Ries. , director of the Heritage Foundation’s Center on Border Security and Immigration, told Fox News Digital.
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Ries called the service “an inconvenience” and said there are “several other similar plans that should meet the same fate under President Trump.”
“Instead of wasting taxpayer dollars in conflict with the agency’s mission, there should be a massive increase in resources to detain and deport illegal aliens. If you don’t support the agency’s mission, you shouldn’t get a penny,” she said.
