New wrist-worn GPS tracking devices are being issued to an increasing number of asylum seekers

HARLINGEN, Texas (Border Report) – Immigration courts are increasingly issuing a new, lighter, wristwatch-style GPS device to track migrants.

The Veri-Watch system, administered by U.S. Immigration, Customs Enforcement and Enforcement officials, has gone from a pilot project with just 50 participants to nearly 3,000 in just the last year, according to new data from the Syracuse-based Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC). University.

The number of wrist-mounted devices issued pales in comparison to the 155,000 SmartLINK smartphone apps currently released that track migrants across the country. However, TRAC data shows that courts – especially in South Texas – are showing a new trend towards issuing this new tracking technology.

U.S. immigration courts in Harlingen, Texas, have issued nearly 500 of these wrist devices, according to TRAC. Since the beginning of May, the number of copies issued throughout the country has exceeded 800.

The change comes after growing criticism of SmartLINK over erroneous reports that the agency is issuing fully functional smartphones to migrants.

“ICE’s growing use of VeriWatch is reflected across the country,” TRAC says.

After Harlingen, Seattle and Los Angeles each released more than 360 such devices last year.

In total, ICE is currently monitoring more than 184,000 migrants through the agency’s Alternatives to Detention programs. Devices used for monitoring include the SmartLINK phone app, phone reporting, VeriWatch, and GPS ankle monitoring.

VeriWatch appears to use GPS ankle sensor technology without the bulky and cumbersome hardware that migration advocates say makes life difficult for asylum seekers and is most noticeable in public places.

“These wrist-worn GPS monitoring devices would complement existing ATD capabilities for non-citizens who qualify for the non-detainee list in a less intrusive way, increasing compliance for participants moving through the immigration process,” ICE Deputy Executive Director for Enforcement and removal operations, Corey Price, said in April 2023 when announcing the new technology and pilot program.

Wrist-worn devices provide location monitoring, face matching, and messaging functionality. It is similar to a smartwatch, “but cannot be used for purposes other than immigration-related,” ICE says.

The watches are manufactured by BI Inc. from Boulder, Colorado and weigh just 2.3 ounces. The devices have a removal detection algorithm that uses proximity and other sensors to detect the moment of removal. It can also store location points for seven days without a cellular connection, and the data can be retained even if the battery runs out. According to BI Inc. also has an LCD touchscreen, speaker and alarm and is available in English and Spanish.

“ICE’s Alternatives to Detention (ATD) programs exist to ensure compliance with conditions of release and provide important case management services for undetained noncitizens,” the agency says on its website.

The agency says ATD is more cost-effective than detaining migrants.

According to ICE, ATD administration costs about $8 a day, compared to $150 a day for detention.

The SmartLINK cellphone application has been widely used across the country for several years, but has faced criticism and numerous false reports that the agency is issuing smart cellphones to migrants after they cross the border.

The app is exactly that and only enables immigration-related communications between the migrant and ICE officials. The agency sends you notifications about upcoming immigration hearing dates. Migrants can also upload and send documents to case specialists and officers, who can message each other directly. According to ICE, migrants can search the database through the app to find social service providers in their area, such as clothing and food banks.

Sandra Sanchez can be reached at [email protected].