U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have called to bring back a policy that gave illegal immigrants “free cell phone minutes.”
“Free” cell phone minutes were given to detained illegal immigrants during the COVID-19 pandemic as in-person visitations were paused.
“During the COVID-19 public health emergency, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement followed CDC guidelines to protect those in our custody including by pausing in-person visitation,” ICE said in a statement. “To ensure noncitizens could still visit with their families, loved ones, and attorneys, the agency paid for 520 phone minutes per month for each person — at no cost to those in custody. It was the right thing to do at the time.
Although ICE has resumed in-person visitations, it would “gladly reinstate the 520 minutes calling program with adequate appropriated funds.”
The program cost taxpayers $10.2 million.
The statement added that “funding is a continued struggle, and the limited funds available are needed to carry out our congressionally mandated mission.”
