ICE Ankle Monitor Tracking Soars to 54,000 Immigrants 2026

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is now tracking nearly 54,000 immigrants through GPS-enabled ankle monitors, a sharp rise from just 17,000 early last year. This surge in electronic surveillance comes as private prison corporation The Geo Group reports growing revenues from its ICE contract, raising questions about cost, privacy, and immigration policy.

Why ICE Ankle Monitor Use Has Tripled

According to The Geo Group, which owns BI Inc—the company running ICE’s intensive supervision appearance program (ISAP)—the overall number of immigrants enrolled in surveillance remained flat at about 184,000. However, a significant shift occurred: many participants moved from less intensive methods like phone check-ins to ankle monitors. This policy change, directed by ICE in June 2025, aims to increase monitoring intensity without expanding the total program size.

The Geo Group’s CEO, George Zoley, confirmed on an earnings call that this mix shift boosts revenues even if participant counts stay stable. Ankle monitors cost ICE just over $2 per day per person, while the SmartLink app—a facial recognition and location tracking tool—costs about $0.96 per enrollee. Currently, more than 127,000 immigrants use SmartLink, but the trend toward ankle monitors is clear.

Financial Implications of the Surveillance Shift

This move has direct financial consequences for taxpayers and the contractor. The Geo Group pitches ankle monitors as a “high-security level of monitoring,” and the higher daily rate increases their earnings. Public ICE statistics show that ankle monitors are among the most expensive surveillance technologies administered by BI Inc. As more immigrants are placed on monitors, the cost per participant rises, even if the total number of participants does not.

Immigration advocacy groups have filed a class-action lawsuit against ICE, alleging that the “ankle monitors for all” policy imposes continuous, real-time GPS tracking without individualized justifications. The lawsuit argues that this blanket approach violates due process and privacy rights, especially for individuals who pose no flight risk or danger.

Comparison: Ankle Monitors vs. SmartLink App

Key Takeaways on ICE Ankle Monitor Expansion

• ICE ankle monitor usage tripled from 17,000 to nearly 54,000 in about a year.
• The Geo Group benefits financially from this shift, as monitors cost more than double the SmartLink app.
• Total ISAP enrollment remains stable at 184,000, but the mix is moving toward higher-cost surveillance.
• A class-action lawsuit challenges the policy as lacking individualized justification.
• Immigrants face constant GPS tracking, raising privacy and civil liberties concerns.

Future of Immigration Electronic Surveillance

If the trend continues, ICE will likely expand ankle monitor use further, increasing costs and legal challenges. The Geo Group’s earnings call suggests this is a profitable direction, but critics argue it creates a perverse incentive to over-monitor. Policymakers must balance enforcement needs with constitutional protections.

For immigration advocates, the key is to push for individualized risk assessments rather than blanket policies. Meanwhile, taxpayers may see higher costs as the program grows. The outcome of the lawsuit could set a precedent for how electronic surveillance is used in immigration enforcement.

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