WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) introduced legislation to revamp U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) has introduced the companion bill in the U.S. Senate.

"The Reshape ATD Act" is the 79^th piece of legislation proposed by Congressman Donalds during the 118^th Congress and requires the utilization of both biometric technology and GPS technology to ensure that law enforcement can pinpoint the exact location of illegal aliens.

House cosponsors of the legislation include Representatives Barry Moore (R-AL), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Mary Miller (R-IL), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Nancy Mace (R-SC), William Timmons (R-SC), Wesley Hunt (R-TX), August Pfluger (R-TX), and Troy Nehls (R-TX). Senate cosponsors of the legislation Rick Scott (R-FL), JD Vance (R-OH), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Steve Daines (R-MT), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Ted Cruz (R-TX).

“Joe Biden purposely and systematically broke our immigration system by executive action," said Rep. Donalds (R-FL). "As a result, there are now more than ten million unvetted illegal aliens that have entered our nation. These people should be held in detention facilities upon entering the United States, however, because Joe Biden has dismantled ICE’s ATD program, they are all-too-often released into our country’s interior and subsequently lost. This is why it’s critical that we utilize biometrics and GPS technology to ensure that law enforcement can pinpoint the exact location of illegal aliens prior to deportation. I am proud to join Senator Hagerty in offering this commonsense proposal on behalf of the American people.”

“The Biden Administration has allowed a tidal wave of illegal aliens to come across our southern border, which has created an unprecedented national security and humanitarian crisis," said Sen. Hagerty (R-TN). "Yet rather than use all available tools to address the issue, Biden’s DHS is refusing to enforce the laws already on the books and making clear efforts to dismantle detention and allow illegal immigrants to roam free throughout the U.S. by abusing ATD. I’m pleased to introduce legislation to require the Administration to combat record-high illegal immigration and help secure our southern border."

“Under the guise of limited space in detention facilities, ICE has been implementing alternatives to detention such as ‘Catch and Release’ that have financially burdened our local communities and law enforcement,” said Rep. Obernolte (R-CA). “The Administration cannot continue to sit idly by while the Adelanto ICE Processing Center is housing only 5 illegal detainees but has the capacity to house over 1,900.  That is why I’m proud to cosponsor Rep. Donalds’s legislation and help our country securely detain and process the immigrants streaming across our southern border.”

“Securing our southern border is only half of the solution to the Biden Administration’s intentional illegal invasion," said Rep. Clyde (R-GA). "We desperately need a historic mass deportation effort to remove the millions of illegal aliens currently residing in our country, which is why I’m proud to support Rep. Donalds’ legislation to vastly improve the ATD program. This bill provides commonsense solutions to effectively process and track illegal aliens, which will greatly bolster detention and deportation efforts.”

“This bill enforces our laws without compromise, shutting down the loopholes that have permitted non-citizens and illegal aliens to evade the strict standards we demand of every American," said. Rep. Mace (R-SC). "Our commitment is clear: uphold the rule of law, without exception."

“The Biden Administration is allowing millions of illegal aliens to come into our country and disappear,” said Rep. Moore (R-AL). “This legislation protects American families by forcing Biden’s Department of Homeland Security to fill their detention beds instead of releasing illegals on to our streets and actually track the illegals they do release.”

“Criminals are flocking to the United States fully aware that they will be released into our interior without consequences,” said Rep. Nehls (R-TX). “The absolute bare minimum we should be doing is tracking where they’re going. Look at what happened to Laken Riley and all the other innocent children who have been victims of violent illegal alien crime this year. I can only imagine that some of their lives would have been spared if these sickening individuals were tracked. I’m proud to join my friend and colleague, Congressman Byron Donalds, on this legislation. If Joe Biden truly cares about the safety of the American people, he will begin tracking these criminal illegal aliens.”


BACKGROUND:

• President Trump’s border policy was only to release aliens at the Southwest Border under “very exigent circumstances.”
  • President Trump’s Executive Order 13767 titled “Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements” instructed DHS to “ensure the detention of all aliens apprehended for violations of immigration law pending the outcome of their removal proceedings.”
• As of January 27^th, 2024, 189,780 individuals were enrolled in the ATD Program.
  • In contrast, 36,931 individuals are currently occupying ICE detention beds.
    • Detention beds funded in FY23—34,000 beds; Detention beds funded in FY24—41,500 beds
• As of May 2022, approximately 187,000 ISAP enrollees were monitored using a smartphone app called SmartLINK, while the use of GPS ankle monitors declined to less than 23,000.

BILL ACTIONS:

• This bill terminates and defunds the Case Management Pilot Program (CMPP) & the Young Adult Case Management Program (YACMP)—all funding will then be transferred to fund additional detention beds. The DHS Secretary shall place all individuals currently enrolled in such programs in detention facilities.
• This bill requires the DHS Secretary to fill all available detention beds before allowing individuals to participate in ATD.
• This bill reaffirms that ICE has complete authority over aliens on the non-detained docket (including those enrolled in ATD)—without interference from DHS’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.
• This bill requires that all Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP) participants be tracked via GPS technology throughout the individual’s entire immigration proceeding.
• This bill makes the Family Expedited Removal Management (FERM) program mandatory for all family units that cross into the United States illegally.
• This bill requires ICE to immediately issue public notice & notify local law enforcement when an alien absconds from ATD.
• This bill prohibits DHS from placing an alien on ATD if they plan to move to a sanctuary jurisdiction.
• This bill requires all ISAP participants to “check in” with the DHS Secretary or face immediate deportation ad infinitum.
• This bill requires that individuals who seek to be enrolled in ATD submit biometric information in order to participate.

MORE:

• See New York Post Exclusive HERE.
• See graphics rollout HERE.
• Read the Donalds–House legislation in its entirety HERE.