ICE is tracking 54 migrants with ankle bracelets that could overheat and shock them.
US authorities are tracking nearly 54 migrants using GPS bracelets as part of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) electronic surveillance program. The transition to such monitoring methods has generated additional revenue for Geo Group, a private prison corporation that manufactures these devices, according to The Guardian.
At the beginning of last year, about 17 thousand people wore such devices.
Geo Group owns BI Inc., which manages the enhanced oversight program (ISAP). The company announced this information during its earnings conference on August 6.
The total number of program participants remains at approximately 184. Geo Group management clarified that a significant portion of participants have been transitioned from less stringent forms of monitoring, such as regular phone check-ins, to wearing bracelets.
On the subject: ICE collected DNA from nearly a million people in a year, even taking samples from young children.
The transition to wristbands, which the company markets as "high-security surveillance," has increased Geo Group's revenue. These devices are more expensive for Immigration and Customs Enforcement than most other technologies used by BI Inc. The company charges just over $2 per wristband per day, while the SmartLink app—a mobile app with facial recognition and location tracking features—costs about $0,96 per person. According to the latest data, more than 127 migrants are required to report through SmartLink.
"If this trend continues, changes in the technology structure and business management will continue to increase ISAP contract revenue and profits, even if the overall number of participants remains relatively stable," said Geo Group Chairman and CEO George Zoli.
In June 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement instructed its staff to transition more ISAP participants to the use of wristbands, according to a memo obtained by the Washington Post.
In June, a class action lawsuit was filed against the agency. Human rights organizations claim the "wristbands for everyone" policy imposes continuous, real-time GPS tracking without individual justification. People are subjected to constant surveillance "without full verification, explanation, or the opportunity to challenge these conditions," the lawsuit states. This includes pregnant women, who were previously reported to be wearing smartwatches.
"US Immigration and Customs Enforcement hasn't explained why the 'bracelet for all' policy is needed, but it serves their interests: making daily life more difficult for migrants while simultaneously increasing profits for their partners in the private prison industry," said Evan Benz, managing attorney at the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights.
Anticipating growing demand for the bracelets, Geo Group began ramping up production of the devices as early as 2025. At the time, the company announced it would invest $16 million in expanding production to be ready to expand the federal government's ISAP program by several hundred thousand participants, and if necessary, to several million.
The company's forecasts for increased bracelet usage have begun to materialize, but on August 6, investors expressed concern that the overall number of program participants was not increasing. Geo Group management had previously stated that the Trump administration's immigration policies would lead to a sharp increase in ISAP enrollment, exceeding the previous peak of 370 people recorded under the Biden administration. The company expected government demand to expand the program to over 400 participants.
Without going into detail, Zoli said he expects further policy changes that could increase the number of people "subject to immigration enforcement." He added, "In the longer term, perhaps as early as next year, we could see a sharp increase in the ISAP program."
The Trump administration recently revoked Temporary Protected Status for Haitians, potentially leading to the detention or deportation of hundreds of thousands of people in the United States.
The company's management previously noted that the number of program participants would begin to grow when the state runs out of space in detention centers.
You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York
The ISAP program was launched in 2004 as an alternative to detention and has since been managed by BI Inc. In addition to wristbands, it includes other forms of monitoring, such as smartwatches with real-time location tracking and a mobile app.
Participants in the program reported that the bracelets designed and manufactured by BI could overheat, give electric shocks, or be too tight, and that government oversight of the system remained minimal.
Read also on ForumDaily:
What do doctors think about smart watches and rings that measure their owner's vital signs?
Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.
Editor's Choice
