Undocumented Immigrants Monitored with GPS Tracking

19 May 2015

Homeland Security wants to find out where immigrants go after crossing the Mexico-United States border, and will do so by tracking them with GPS tracking devices.

The Homeland Security Department in the United States decided to choose people who were caught attempting to cross the border from Mexico into the U.S. after being released from their custody. They informed them that they would not force them back into Mexico, but in exchange for their release, would need to wear GPS tracking ankle bracelets and report back to them regularly.

The border being tracked is between Mexico and the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. It began in September when there was a meeting between a group of immigrant advocates and the Homeland Security Department. The advocates informed the government agency that approximately 70 percent of immigrants who travel as families failed to report to immigration after they were released at the border.

Due to the high rate of no-sows, the Obama Administration tried opening up a temporary family jail in New Mexico at the Border Patrol’s training school. They want to help families, especially mothers who have young children with them, to avoid the poor and dangerous conditions of typical jails. They are hoping to house families who have been caught illegally crossing the border into the U.S. At the same time, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), was looking for other ways to track them, instead of forcing them into jails.

This is how they got the idea to use GPS tracking devices. The pilot program, being nicknamed RGV 250, began on December 1^st. They are tracking the head of household for each family that is caught trying to cross the border, instead of asking the family to remain in jail. They will track them to be sure they return to the immigration office as requested. About 250 people are going to be tracked with this program. If the immigrants report to the ICE office on the date requested, their GPS device will then be removed.

This is currently a pilot program to see how it all works and how effective it is. If they notice a significant increase in immigrants that voluntarily go to the ICE office and report to them, they may expand the program. According to Jennifer Elzea, a spokeswoman for ICE, each immigrant family is carefully screened to decide if they should be released or detained. They want to be sure they are not releasing anyone who might be a threat to other citizens. Those who are deemed safe to be released will have the tracking device.

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About George Karonis

George Karonis is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of LiveViewGPS Inc., a company he established in 2008 with the vision of making real-time GPS tracking more reliable, affordable, and accessible for businesses of all sizes. Over the past two decades, he has built a reputation as an innovator in GPS tracking, fleet management, asset monitoring, and Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PTToC) communications. Under George's leadership, LiveViewGPS has grown into a nationally recognized provider of GPS tracking solutions, serving businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, law enforcement organizations, and public works departments throughout the United States. The company's technology helps organizations improve operational efficiency, protect valuable assets, increase driver safety, and reduce operating costs through real-time location intelligence. Before founding LiveViewGPS, George developed a background in security, surveillance, and emerging location technologies. His passion for innovation and practical problem solving has driven the development of products that combine dependable hardware with easy-to-use cloud software, giving customers actionable information when it matters most. In 2018, George expanded into nationwide Push-to-Talk over Cellular communications by launching PeakPTT, providing businesses with rugged, instant communication solutions that operate over LTE and Wi-Fi networks. His focus has remained the same throughout his career: delivering dependable technology backed by exceptional customer service and long-term customer relationships. George regularly writes about GPS tracking, fleet management, asset protection, business technology, and communication systems. Through this blog, he shares industry insights, practical advice, and emerging trends to help organizations make informed decisions about tracking technology and connected operations.