ICE shuts down programs offering services to illegal immigrants, citing ‘immense’ costs

EXCLUSIVE: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has ended two programs that provide social services to illegal immigrants released into the U.S. interior, telling lawmakers that one imposes “enormous costs with little improvement” and that the other is inconsistent with ICE’s mission.

The agency responded to Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., and 15 members of Congress, who wrote to ICE in May asking for more information about the “Alternatives to Detention” program, which tracks illegal immigrants who are not in ICE custody. The agency defended the program and said it was an “effective and efficient” program to track the portion of illegal immigrants in ICE custody.

ICE only has about 40,000 beds available to it at any one time, while it has a nondetainee base of nearly 7.7 million people — a number that has skyrocketed during the Biden administration. Of these, just over 181,000 are included in the Alternatives to Detention monitoring program, where migrants are monitored either by logging in via an app or a GPS monitor.

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But in recent years, the agency has also created separate programs to provide various services and assistance to those who are not in custody. The agency states in the letter that some of these programs are ending. One is the Wraparound Stabilization Service (WSS), which ICE says began in February 2020 and involves working with non-governmental organizations to offer “services that provide psychosocial and behavioral health support for vulnerable participants and their families who would benefit from additional stabilization services”.

ICE says the program stopped referrals in July and that the program was ineffective at what it was trying to do, having only a 2% higher compliance rate for those who participated in services compared to those who did not.

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“ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations.” [ERO] notes that the challenge with WSS was the enormous expense with little improvement,” it says. “As a result, ERO determined that WSS was not cost-effective enough to continue paying for these services when they did not benefit ICE or help the agency to further your mission.”

ICE has previously cited difficulties with the program, including a cumbersome identification and referral process, a significant increase in the number of participants and a lack of resources.

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The agency also says it decided in June not to pursue a contract with a vendor for the Young Adult Case Management Program (YACMP). This program offered 18- and 19-year-old migrants legal services, screenings, referrals to social welfare programs and human trafficking projections. It started in 2023 and was present in 16 cities.

“In addition to fiscal constraints, a review of the program revealed that YACMP is not aligned with ERO’s mission or priorities. In summary, ERO has taken steps to realign or discontinue the program to address budgetary challenges facing the agency,” it said. agency letter.

The letter also provided information on the operation of ATD tracking using an app or GPS, known as Intensive Appearance Surveillance Program (ISAP). ICE said that 98.6% of those with court monitoring showed up for their court hearings overall, while 90.4% showed up for final hearings. In September, 13.2% of participants were tracking an ankle or wrist GPS device, and the average duration of the program was 511.9 days.

Deputies also asked about those who were charged or convicted of crimes while enrolled in ATD. The agency said there were 3,913 charges and 688 convictions for those in the program in fiscal year 2024, including 10 sex offense convictions, 364 traffic violation convictions, two murder convictions, four kidnapping convictions and 65 assault convictions.

The new Trump administration is looking at a significant increase in deportations, with President-elect Trump promising a “historic” mass deportation operation. Fox DigitI also reported this month that he wants to reduce the number of people not in custody, while also increasing the use of ankle monitors on those who cannot be detained.

Conservatives responded to the information provided to lawmakers by calling on the new administration to cut even more programs that provide services to illegal immigrants.

“ICE is a law enforcement agency, not a charity. The billions of dollars that DHS has wasted to bring millions of illegal aliens into the country and provide them with excessive benefits should be redirected to ensure that every illegal alien is safely returned to their home country,” Lora Ries, director of the Center for Border Security and Immigration Heritage Foundation for Fox News Digital.

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Ries called the services “weak” and said “there are several other similar initiatives that must suffer the same fate under President Trump.”

“Instead of wasting taxpayer dollars in conflict with the agency’s mission, we should see 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 dime,” she said.