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, according to private prison corporation The Geo Group. This surge in electronic surveillance reflects a broader policy shift under ICE's intensive supervision appearance program (ISAP), raising critical questions about cost, privacy, and the future of immigration enforcement.

Why the Number of Ankle Monitors Has Tripled

The Geo Group, which owns BI Inc—the company running ISAP—reported the updated figures during its earnings call on Thursday. While overall ISAP enrollment remained flat at about 184,000 participants, a large portion were moved from less intensive methods like phone check-ins to ankle monitors. This shift aligns with a June 2025 ICE memo directing agents to increase ankle monitor usage, a policy critics call "ankle monitors for all."

According to the earnings call, the change is financially beneficial for Geo Group. Ankle monitors cost ICE just over $2 per day per device, compared to $0.96 per immigrant for the SmartLink facial recognition app. With more than 127,000 immigrants already using SmartLink, any mix shift toward ankle monitors significantly boosts revenue.

Cost Comparison: Ankle Monitors vs. SmartLink App

To understand the financial implications, here is a direct cost breakdown based on publicly available ICE statistics:

This cost disparity underscores why Geo Group's chairman, George Zoley, noted that "the technology and case management mix shift will continue to increase revenues and earnings" even if total participation remains stable.

Legal and Privacy Concerns

A new class-action lawsuit filed against ICE in June alleges that the "ankle monitors for all" policy imposes continuous, real-time GPS tracking without individualized justifications. Immigration advocacy groups argue this violates due process and privacy rights, subjecting individuals to constant surveillance without evidence of flight risk or danger.

Key Takeaways from the ICE Ankle Monitor Expansion

• Ankle monitor usage has tripled from 17,000 to nearly 54,000 in just over a year.
• The shift is driven by an ICE policy memo from June 2025, not by individual case reviews.
• Geo Group profits directly from this policy, with ankle monitors costing more than double the SmartLink app.
• Legal challenges are mounting, with a class-action lawsuit citing lack of individualized justification.
• Overall ISAP enrollment remains flat, indicating a redistribution rather than an expansion of surveillance.

What This Means for Immigrants and Taxpayers

For immigrants, the increased use of ankle monitors means greater restrictions on movement and privacy, often for months or years while cases proceed. For taxpayers, the higher per-day cost of ankle monitors could lead to increased spending on immigration enforcement without a corresponding rise in public safety, as critics note that GPS tracking does not necessarily prevent absconding.

FAQ

As this policy continues to evolve, both legal experts and immigration advocates will be watching closely. For now, the rapid expansion of ankle monitors signals a new era in immigration surveillance—one that balances cost, security, and civil liberties remains highly contentious.

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