ICE shuts down taxpayer funded programs over ‘immense cost’ and

We support our Publishers and Content Creators. You can view this story on their website by CLICKING HERE.

Two programs providing services for illegal immigrants on the taxpayers’ dime have shut down due to their “immense cost” and ineffectiveness.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reportedly ended two programs that catered to those illegally crossing the U.S. border, citing costs, a “lack of resources” and a “substantial increase” in the number of migrants.

In a letter to Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) and 15 members of Congress, ICE detailed the end of the taxpayer-funded programs while responding to a request for more information on the “Alternatives to Detention” program. The agency defended the monitoring service as “an efficient and effective” program that keeps track of illegal migrants not being held in ICE detention.

NEW: ICE has terminated two programs that gave taxpayer funded social services to illegal aliens who have been released into the US, citing “immense cost” and ineffectiveness of the programs. Illegal aliens in one program only had a 2% higher compliance rate than those not in it,…

— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) December 31, 2024

“ICE only has around 40,000 beds available at one time while it has a non-detained docket of nearly 7.7 million people, a number that has soared during the Biden administration. Of those, just over 181,000 are enrolled in the Alternatives to Detention monitoring program, where migrants are monitored either by an app check-in or a GPS monitor,” Fox News’ Adam Shaw and Bill Melugin reported.

But some of the other programs to assist illegal aliens who are not in detention have ended, according to the agency.

The Wraparound Stabilization Service (WSS) began in February 2020 but stopped referrals in July. The program was set up to purportedly work with NGOs to offer “services that provide psychosocial and behavioral health support for vulnerable participants and their families who would benefit from additional stabilization services.”

However, the agency cited the program’s ineffectiveness as the reason for its demise.

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

Another service, the Young Adult Case Management (YACMP) program, which provided legal services to 18- and 19-year-old migrants, was also scrapped. The agency explained how the 16-city program that launched in 2023 and provided human trafficking screenings, as well as referrals to social services for illegal migrants, did not align with ICE’s mission.

“In addition to fiscal limitations, a review of the program revealed that YACMP does not align with ERO’s mission or priorities. In short, ERO took steps to realign or stop using programs to address the budget challenges facing the agency,” the letter stated.

Fox News reported:

The letter also provided information about the operation of the ATD tracking by app or GPS, known as the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP). ICE said 98.6% of those with court tracking appeared at their court hearings overall, while 90.4% appeared for final hearings. As of September, 13.2% of participants were being tracked by a GPS ankle or wrist device, and the average length on the program was 511.9 days.

The incoming Trump administration is being urged by conservatives to scrutinize and cut more programs that provide illegal migrants with social services at taxpayers’ expense.

Lora Ries, director of the Heritage Foundation’s Border Security and Immigration Center, noted that ICE “is a law enforcement agency, not a charity.”

“The billions of dollars DHS has wasted to bring millions of illegal aliens into the country and provide them excessive amenities should be redirected to getting every illegal alien safely back to their home country,” she told Fox News Digital.

Describing the services as a “boondoggle,” Ries urged that “there are several other similar initiatives that must meet the same fate under President Trump.”

“Instead of wasting taxpayer dollars in conflict with an agency mission, we should see a massive increase in resources for detaining and deporting illegal aliens. If you don’t support the agency’s mission, you shouldn’t get a dime,” she told the outlet.

Senior Staff Writer — [email protected]
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.

Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.