In a final push before the end of President Joe Biden’s term, the administration is quietly rolling out policies that will loosen restrictions for migrants who have entered the U.S. illegally. These changes are designed to ease the burden on migrants and make it harder for President-elect Donald Trump to immediately implement his immigration crackdown once he takes office. A key change involves the rollout of an ICE Portal app in New York City, which will allow migrants to skip in-person check-ins with ICE officers.
The new app, which will be available in New York City starting in December, will allow migrants to report their status remotely, bypassing the traditional in-person appointments at ICE offices. Homeland Security sources have expressed concern over the app’s reliability, noting that it has faced numerous technical issues during testing. Additionally, the app does not check for past arrests or outstanding warrants, a key feature of the current system that helps ICE track criminals who have been released into the U.S.
🚨 How is this as a parting gift from the Biden administration?
NYPost: "Biden admin quietly loosening immigration policies before Trump takes office — including letting migrants skip ICE check-ins in NYC"
WHY? ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/73aq0prhOO
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) November 21, 2024
These changes come as part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to implement new immigration policies before Trump takes office. In addition to the app, the administration is rolling back restrictions on the use of electronic monitoring, including ankle bracelets, which are typically used to track migrants awaiting their immigration hearings. Under the new rules, migrants will be able to contest their tracking status, requesting that their monitoring be downgraded or terminated altogether.
The Biden administration’s actions have been criticized as an attempt to obstruct Trump’s efforts to implement his own immigration policies, including mass deportations and tighter border security. Former officials, including Mark Morgan, the former acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, have called these late-stage moves an effort to “throw as many grenades as they can” before the transition of power.
NEW: The Biden admin has quietly loosened immigration policies before Trump takes office, allowing migrants to “flee authorities” according to the New York Post.
The Biden admin is launching a new ICE Portal app, allowing migrants to bypass in-person check-ins.
"Homeland… pic.twitter.com/xk37CDEzSA
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 21, 2024
For New York City, the changes come amid an ongoing migrant crisis. More than 223,000 migrants have arrived in the city, overwhelming local resources and shelters. The new policies, particularly the introduction of the ICE Portal app, could make it more difficult for local authorities to manage the increasing number of migrants and track their movements, further complicating the city’s efforts to deal with the crisis.
While these changes may complicate the incoming administration’s efforts to address illegal immigration, experts suggest that legal challenges could delay or prevent Trump from immediately reversing these policies. The ongoing battle over immigration continues to be a contentious issue, with both sides preparing for the legal and procedural challenges that lie ahead.
