Originally published September 21, 2023 5:00 pm PDT
The Biden administration is reportedly developing an identification card, known as the ‘ICE Secure Docket Card,’ for migrants entering the U.S. unlawfully.
Newly obtained images by Fox News Digital highlight the proposed features of the identification card, designed for migrants who, after crossing the border illicitly, are not deported but instead released into the U.S.
This initiative from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) aims to “modernize various forms of documentation provided to provisionally released noncitizens through a consistent, verifiable, secure card.”
It is devised to replace the existing array of documents provided to migrants, depending on their individual circumstances.
The illustrated card reveals spaces designated for a photograph, a QR code, and identifying information, augmented by advanced security details, with the ICE logo prominently displayed.
U.S. Representative Troy Nehls (R-TX) posted a photo of the ID in a Twitter (X) post.
ICE clarified that the card intends to “improve current, inconsistent paper forms that often degrade rapidly in real-world use.”
It will encompass a photograph, biographical identifiers, and state-of-the-art security features.
The identification card is still undergoing development and is in the pilot phase, with considerations for broader implementation depending on the program’s outcomes.
The card’s utility extends to scheduling and checking in at reporting meetings with ICE, allowing a swift verification of an alien’s identity, and determining their deportability in the field.
However, this initiative has stirred unease among conservatives, raising concerns about its role in seemingly endorsing rather than preventing illegal immigration.
RJ Hauman, president of the National Immigration Center for Enforcement (NICE) and a visiting adviser at the Heritage Foundation, expressed, “ICE is a federal law enforcement agency, not the DMV. When will Congress wake up and put an end to these open-borders, anti-enforcement programs that defy the agency’s mission and enable the crisis?”
He emphasized that “ICE should be arresting, detaining, and removing those who come here illegally, not doling out social services.”
These concerns are mirrored by lawmakers from the House Oversight Committee, who last year interpreted this as “yet another Biden Administration move encouraging illegal immigration by rewarding illegal immigrants for breaking our laws.”
They are apprehensive about the inclusion of QR codes that potentially link to court documents and other sensitive information.
The critics argue that this raises serious security issues and question the likely diversion of substantial taxpayer resources from immigration enforcement to maintaining a secure system.
Responding to these concerns, ICE, last year, reassured that this ID wouldn’t serve as an official form of federal identification and is intended solely for DHS agencies, Fox News notes.
They asserted, “Moving to a secure card will save the agency millions, free up resources, and ensure information is quickly accessible to DHS officials while reducing the agency’s FOIA backlog. For provisionally released noncitizens, the digital modernization will provide ongoing access to important immigration documents through the secure card and connected portal.”
