President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team is considering a major expansion of GPS monitoring for illegal immigrants not held in federal detention, according to sources reported by Fox News Digital. This move aligns with Trump’s pledge to launch a mass deportation effort once he takes office.
The incoming administration’s priority is the detention and deportation of illegal immigrants, as well as preventing further illegal entries. With current Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention capacity limited to tens of thousands, GPS monitoring through the Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program is seen as a way to track those awaiting deportation proceedings.
Under the ATD program, illegal immigrants are monitored via ankle or wrist-worn devices or a cell phone app that requires regular check-ins with ICE. As of November, ICE data shows 187,747 individuals being tracked with technology, including about 25,000 using ankle or wrist monitors. Typically, migrants are placed on ATD when released at the border during the early stages of their cases.
Trump’s team is exploring ways to increase the number of immigrants on GPS monitoring and extend the duration of monitoring. Officials believe that shutting down entries at the southern border would allow more resources to be allocated to monitoring individuals already in the U.S. interior.
Supporters of the ATD program argue that compliance rates are high and that it is cost-effective, with monitoring costing $8 per day compared to $150 per day for detention. However, some immigration activists criticize the program as creating “digital prisons,” while some conservatives argue for expanding its use to ensure compliance with deportation orders.
The proposed expansion could include stricter penalties for noncompliance, though specifics are yet to be determined. The Justice for Jocelyn Act, introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX), would mandate continuous GPS monitoring for all illegal immigrants on the non-detained docket. It also calls for curfews from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. and removal in absentia for any violations.
To support the anticipated mass deportation effort, ICE is expected to expand its detention and monitoring capacity. The GEO Group, a key contractor for ICE, announced a $70 million investment to enhance its ability to provide detention facilities, secure transport, and electronic monitoring services.
