Detained Immigrants Must Wear Tracking Devices in Texas Detention Center

The Dallas Daily News is reporting that immigrants being held at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in El Paso, Texas, are now being required to wear tracking devices. The devices, which immigrants wear on their wrists or ankles, use radio-frequency identification (RFID) in order to track the movements of those wearing the devices. The El Paso detention center houses about 900 immigrants on a daily basis. In the past, ICE has used the monitoring devices to keep track of low-risks immigrants who are involved in deportation proceedings, but who have been released on bond or are otherwise not detained. ICE agents use the tracking devices to ensure that these immigrants keep all appointments and show up to their hearings in immigration court as scheduled. The Department of Homeland Security has marketed the usage of these devices as a low-cost alternative to detention; while it costs about $122 per day to house an immigrant in a detention center, it costs about $4.50 per day to use alternate methods to keep tabs on immigrants, such as tracking devices. For federal fiscal year 2017, ICE has a $6.2 million budget for alternatives to immigrant detention. ICE Is proposing a $57.4 million increase to this budget in order to expand the use of tracking devices and other alternatives to detention. This alternative program currently serves 53,000 immigrants, and with the budget increase, ICE hopes to expand it to 79,000 immigrants. Some immigration advocates have questioned the need for amounts to double security, i.e. tracking the movements of immigrants who are already detained in secure detention centers. This level of security seems to be highly disproportionate to the potential safety risks of individuals detained on immigration violations. Individuals who are detained and/or facing deportation need an experienced California immigration attorney who can assist them with this often complex process. At Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C., we know how to stand up for the rights of those who are legally entitled to remain in the U.S. Call us today at (510) 756-4468 and schedule an appointment with one of our deportation defense lawyers, and learn how we can assist you.