Key facts
- ICE is tracking nearly 54,000 immigrants with GPS ankle monitors.
- The number of immigrants tracked with ankle monitors has surged significantly from early last year.
- The Geo Group's subsidiary, BI Inc., operates the ankle monitor tracking program.
- BI Inc. profits from the higher cost of ankle monitors compared to other tracking technologies.
- ICE officers will be equipped with body cameras by the end of September.
- ICE's new policy allows for the withholding of body camera video if not in the agency's 'best interests.'
- This policy could limit public access to recordings of critical incidents.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is significantly increasing its use of GPS ankle monitors, now tracking nearly 54,000 immigrants. This represents a substantial rise from earlier in the previous year. The expansion of this surveillance program is managed by BI Inc., a subsidiary of The Geo Group. This arrangement is profitable for BI Inc. due to the higher cost associated with ankle monitors compared to other tracking methods.
In parallel, ICE is preparing to deploy body cameras for its officers by the end of September. Despite this technological advancement, a newly established policy grants the agency broad authority to withhold footage. The policy states that body camera video releases will only occur if they are determined to be in ICE's 'best interests.' This stipulation raises concerns about potential limitations on public access to recordings, particularly those documenting critical incidents.