The Post has learned that the Biden administration is actively working to swiftly implement new policies that aim to relax the restrictions on migrants who have entered the US illegally. This move is seen as a last-ditch effort to counter President-elect Donald Trump’s strict immigration crackdowns and his plans for mass deportations.
New York City will be the epicenter for these transformations.
The current administration plans to introduce an ICE Portal app in December in New York City. This app will enable migrants to avoid the need for in-person check-ins at their local ICE office.
According to sources from the Department of Homeland Security, The Post has learned that the application will provide an easier means for migrants to evade authorities. This is primarily due to the fact that the software has been found to be unreliable and prone to glitches.
The new app, even in its functional state, fails to verify previous arrests or existing warrants, a capability that the current system, which relies on in-person appointments, possesses, according to sources.
According to sources, the first wave of the program will aim to enroll up to 100,000 migrants.
According to a source from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), numerous lawsuits are often filed, sometimes without merit, which can significantly impede the progress of the administration’s objectives.
Former acting Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Mark Morgan criticized the last-minute actions of the Biden administration, describing them as contradictory to a peaceful transition of power.
Morgan criticized the transition as being obstructive.
In their final day, their aim is to create numerous roadblocks, obstacles, and chaos as they depart.
According to Morgan, he believes that court challenges could potentially slow down Trump’s efforts to abolish the new Biden policies. He pointed out that similar court challenges were successful in blunting Trump’s immigration policies during his first administration.
In the field office of New York City, where the app is set to launch, ICE is already facing an overwhelming number of illegal migrants on the streets.
According to a document reviewed by The Post, the office had already reached full capacity and was completely booked until October 2032 for processing appointments for migrants released into the US.
According to a recent report from City Hall, over 223,000 migrants have arrived in the city since the onset of the migrant crisis. Currently, taxpayers are still providing care for more than 58,000 migrants in shelters funded by the city.
Despite encountering “extreme issues” during pilot program testing in various cities, the Biden administration is proceeding with the rollout of the app.
According to sources, the app has been experiencing issues on Android phones. Additionally, when used on a laptop for check-ins, it fails to gather the GPS location of the participant. This implies that individuals using the app could potentially report in from any location.
The app only shares the subject’s location for seven days when it is used on a phone.
In the current system, migrants are required to provide proof of their current address. However, the proposed database eliminates this requirement. Additionally, the database conducts continuous searches for arrest records of migrants nationwide. This means that even if migrants fail to show up for appointments, their information will still be flagged for ICE officers to review.
The system enables ICE to take a more proactive approach towards migrants who have been arrested, even if they are currently residing in a sanctuary city like New York.
According to sources, there is a lack of communication between the app and the existing migrant tracking database. This creates difficulties for ICE in effectively monitoring migrant criminals.
According to a source, it is crucial to have access to the information about individuals who have failed to appear in court or have evaded the authorities after receiving a final order of removal. This data is essential for initiating the search process and locating these individuals.
The new changes, however, don’t stop there.
The Biden administration is attempting to quietly implement relaxed regulations on the electronic monitoring of released migrants, including the use of ankle bracelets, under ICE’s “Alternatives to Detention” program.
According to a source, the proposed changes will provide migrants with additional rights that will enable them to challenge and oppose the practice of monitoring and tracking.
According to the source, if the program is put into effect, migrants will have the opportunity to request a review whenever they wish. They will be able to demand that their minor status be either downgraded or completely terminated.
According to the source, the alien is granted the capability to completely exit the program.
According to another source, migrants now have the option to request being “de-escalated” from monitoring if they are fully compliant with the program. In the event that their request is denied by ICE officers, migrants can go through a lengthy appeals process.
According to a source familiar with the matter, the current approach is resulting in an excessive amount of administrative paperwork, which is burdensome for employees. The source pointed out that many employees may find the additional workload overwhelming, leading to their termination from the program without going through the appeal process.