Nearly 700 illegal migrants were convicted of crimes this year after being released from detention and tracked using technology including an app and GPS devices.
The convictions included two for homicide, four for kidnapping, 10 for sex offenses, six for weapons charges, and 65 for assault.
Those convicted had been released into the U.S. under the ‘Alternatives to Detention – Intensive Supervision Appearance’ program, known as ATD-ISAP.
A total of around 180,000 migrants are covered by the program which includes being being monitored using self check-in on an app, a GPS device on the ankle or wrist, or telephone calls.
The figures emerged as it was also revealed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has scrapped two related programs giving social services to illegal immigrants who have been released under ATD-ISAP.
In May, 16 members of Congress including Byron Donalds, the Florida Republican, wrote to ICE seeking more information about the program.
In a response, shared with Fox News, ICE said it was only funded for 41,500 beds for illegal immigrants.
It therefore has a ‘docket’ of millions of ‘non-citizens released from detention with final orders of removal as well as non-citizens who have been released and are waiting for an immigration court hearing.’
The letter said: ‘As of November 20, 2024, there were more than 7.7 million non-citizens on the non-detained docket.’
It said criminal non-citizens were required to report at least every two months for the first year of their release.
Immigration violators without criminal records or other ‘derogatory information’ have to report every four months, and asylum seekers once every six months.
Those covered by the ATD-ISAP program have an ‘additional layer of supervision’ which ‘might include daily check-ins or travel restrictions.’
The figures it provided for convictions also showed those released into the U.S. under the program committed 17 offences of fraud and forgery, and 31 of larceny in 2024.
In its response ICE also detailed the closure of the Wraparound Stabilization Service (WSS), a program for illegal immigrants that started four years ago.
It provided ‘psychosocial and behavioral health support for vulnerable participants and their families.’
Despite the ‘immense cost’ of the program it had not achieved significantly higher compliance by migrants with the court system.
The letter said: ‘The challenge with the WSS was its immense cost with little improvement.’
It was’ not cost effective enough to continue paying for these services when they did not benefit ICE or help the agency further its mission.’
To save money ICE also stopped the Young Adult Case Management (YACMP) program which started in 2023 and was set up in 16 cities.
It gave legal help and social services referrals to migrants aged 18 and 19.
The letter said it was ended because of ‘fiscal limitations’ and because it did not ‘align with’ ICE”s mission or priorities.’
The agency added: ‘In short,(we) took steps to realign or stop using programs to address the budget challenges facing the agency.’
ICE also gave figures for compliance for the ATD-ISAP tracing program.
It said 98.6 percent of migrants being tracking appeared at court hearings overall, and 90.4 for their final hearings.
The average length of time they were in the monitoring program was 512 days.