ICE Tracks 54,000 Immigrants via Ankle Monitors – What It Means 2026

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is now tracking nearly 54,000 immigrants through GPS-enabled ankle monitors, a dramatic increase from just 17,000 early last year. This surge in ankle monitor usage is reshaping immigration surveillance and raising significant privacy and legal concerns.

Why the Sharp Increase in ICE Ankle Monitors?

According to private prison corporation The Geo Group, which runs ICE’s intensive supervision appearance program (ISAP), the shift to ankle monitors is driven by a policy directive issued in June 2025. ICE agents were instructed to move more immigrants from less intensive surveillance methods, such as phone check-ins, to real-time GPS tracking.

The overall number of immigrants enrolled in ISAP remained flat at about 184,000, but the mix changed dramatically. Now, nearly one-third of participants wear ankle monitors, up from under 10% previously.

The Role of Geo Group and BI Inc

Geo Group owns BI Inc, the company that administers ISAP. In its earnings call, Geo Group executives highlighted that ankle monitors are a “high-security level of monitoring” and cost ICE more than other technologies. This shift has directly increased revenues for Geo Group, as ankle monitors generate higher daily fees.

Ankle monitors cost ICE a little more than $2 per day per monitor, while the SmartLink app – a facial recognition and location tracking smartphone app – costs about $0.96 per enrolled immigrant. With over 127,000 immigrants using SmartLink, the financial implications are substantial.

Data Comparison: Ankle Monitors vs. SmartLink App

This cost differential explains why Geo Group’s CEO, George Zoley, noted on the earnings call that “if this trend continues, the technology and case management mix shift will continue to increase revenues and earnings generated under the ISAP contract even if overall participation counts remain relatively stable.”

Legal and Privacy Concerns Over “Ankle Monitors for All”

A new class-action lawsuit filed against ICE in June alleges that the “ankle monitors for all” policy “imposes continuous, real-time GPS monitoring without individualized justifications.” Immigration advocacy groups argue that this blanket approach violates due process and privacy rights.

The lawsuit highlights that immigrants are being subjected to constant tracking without evidence of flight risk or danger. This contrasts with previous practices where ankle monitors were reserved for high-risk cases.

Key Takeaways from the Surge in ICE Surveillance

• ICE ankle monitor usage tripled from 17,000 to 54,000 in about 18 months.
• The shift is policy-driven, not based on individual risk assessments.
• Geo Group profits directly from the increase, raising ethical questions about for-profit surveillance.
• SmartLink app remains the cheaper alternative, but ICE is moving away from it.
• Legal challenges are mounting, with class-action lawsuits citing privacy violations.

What This Means for Immigrants and Taxpayers

For immigrants in the ISAP program, the move to ankle monitors means constant GPS tracking, which can interfere with work, family life, and mental health. The devices are often uncomfortable and stigmatizing, and they create a digital record of every movement.

For taxpayers, the increased cost per person – more than double the app-based monitoring – adds up quickly. With 54,000 monitors at $2+ per day, the annual cost exceeds $39 million just for the devices, not including case management and enforcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

As the debate over immigration enforcement intensifies, the expansion of ankle monitor surveillance will likely remain a contentious issue. For now, the numbers speak for themselves: 54,000 people are being tracked in real time, and the trend shows no signs of reversing.