The US government may soon begin monitoring all ‘non-detained immigrants’ through mandatory GPS tracking devices amid a continued crackdown. A bill outlining several measures that would curtail asylum support and increase surveillance was greenlit by the Republican-controlled House Appropriations Committee earlier this week. The Homeland Security funding legislation will now face the US House — which is currently controlled by the Donald Trump-led party.
“Prioritises funding for detention beds and ensures all aliens on the non-detained docket are monitored with mandatory GPS technology throughout the duration of their entire immigration proceeding. Prohibits the development, pilot, or administration of a physical identification card for aliens,” reads an excerpt from the Bill.
The ‘Fiscal Year 2026 Homeland Security Appropriations Act’ also delivers extensively on Trump’s hardline immigration promises with the allocation of $11 billion for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations and support. It includes fresh curbs against DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) funding at the Department of Homeland Security and bars local law enforcement agencies from decreasing their 287(g) agreements with ICE. The latter had incidentally allowed designated local officers to perform certain immigration enforcement functions — such as identifying, processing, and detaining undocumented immigrants.
Who will face mandatory GPS tracking?
The Bill proposes mandatory GPS tracking for “all non-detained immigrants” — including students and asylum-seekers. This would apply for the duration of their immigration proceedings or until removal if ordered. Put more simply, any individual who is subject to immigration processing or removal proceedings would be required to wear the trackers (if they were not being held in detention). This will also affect visa holders who violate immigration laws or people whose visas are removed — subsequently triggering removal proceedings.
How would it work?
A similar tracking method is already being used by ICE as part of its ‘alternatives to detention’ program — with a pilot program for wrist-worn trackers taking off in 2023. These devices provide GPS location monitoring, facial matching, and messaging functionalities. ICE had also released around 3,000 wrist-worn “Veri-Watches” to keep constant tabs on asylum-seekers last year.
“These wrist-worn GPS monitoring devices would supplement existing ATD capabilities for noncitizens who qualify for the non-detained docket in a less obtrusive manner, increasing compliance for participants moving through the immigration process,” ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations executive associate director Corey Price had said while announcing the tracking program.
Similar technology would probably be used for wider-scale monitoring if the new Bill is passed. But with millions likely to come under its expanded ambit, it remains unclear who would be tasked with monitoring these asylum seekers.