Chicago December 31, 2024
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has decided to terminate two programs that provided social services to undocumented immigrants released within the country. The agency informed Congressman Byron Donalds and other members of Congress that these programs were either too costly or did not align with ICE’s core mission.
One of the discontinued programs, the Wraparound Stabilization Service (WSS), started in February 2020 and collaborated with non-governmental organizations to offer psychological and behavioral support to vulnerable immigrants and their families. However, ICE has found that the high costs of WSS did not justify the benefits, as it showed little improvement in fulfilling ICE’s objectives.
Another program, the Young Adult Case Management Program (YACMP), which began in 2023 and was active in 16 cities, is also coming to an end. This program provided legal assistance, screenings, and referrals to social services for migrants aged 18 and 19, including those at risk of human trafficking. In June, ICE chose not to renew the contract for this service, citing misalignment with its mission.
ICE currently manages nearly 7.7 million people on its non-detained docket, far exceeding the 40,000 beds available in its facilities. Only about 181,000 of these individuals are monitored through the Alternatives to Detention program, which uses app check-ins and GPS monitoring to track migrants not in physical detention. The agency defended this program as both efficient and effective for overseeing undocumented immigrants not in custody.
