The Biden administration is implementing a series of last-minute immigration policy changes that critics argue could complicate the incoming Trump administration's plans for stricter border enforcement and mass deportations. Among these measures is the introduction of a controversial ICE Portal app, allowing migrants to check in with immigration officials remotely instead of attending in-person appointments. Detractors claim the moves are a deliberate attempt to undermine President-elect Donald Trump's anticipated hardline immigration agenda.
The ICE Portal app, set to launch in December, has faced criticism over its reliability and potential security gaps. Homeland Security sources described the app as glitch-ridden, particularly when used on Android devices and laptops. Additionally, the app reportedly lacks functionality to track GPS locations consistently or to flag migrants with outstanding arrest warrants or past offenses. Up to 100,000 migrants are expected to enroll in the app's first phase, raising concerns about its effectiveness and implications for immigration enforcement.
New York City, which has already received over 223,000 migrants since 2022, will serve as a focal point for the app's rollout. The city has spent $3.7 billion in the last fiscal year on housing, food, and other migrant services, according to official reports. Republican City Council member Joe Borelli criticized the Biden administration's actions, saying, "These steps taken during the death gargles of the Biden administration are disheartening, to say the least. This doesn't seem to be in the spirit of the peaceful transition Biden promised."
Congressman Mike Lawler, a Republican representing New York's 17th District, expressed outrage over the timing of these policy changes, referencing the recent sentencing of Jose Ibarra, an undocumented immigrant who killed New Yorker Laken Reilly. "For this news to come out just a day after Laken Reilly's killer was sentenced is astounding," Lawler said. "It defies logic and all common sense."
The Biden administration is also loosening restrictions on monitoring migrants through its "Alternatives to Detention" program. Changes include allowing migrants to contest electronic tracking measures, such as ankle bracelets, and to request reduced or terminated monitoring if deemed compliant. Critics argue that these changes could create administrative burdens and weaken enforcement. "It's creating a lot of extra paperwork," a Homeland Security source explained. "In most cases, officers may terminate cases rather than go through the appeal process."
Former acting Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Mark Morgan accused the Biden administration of intentionally complicating the transition of power. "This is the opposite of a peaceful transition," Morgan said. "They're throwing as many roadblocks and grenades as they can on their way out."
The outgoing administration's last-minute changes could also face legal challenges. Immigration policy experts note that procedural hurdles and potential lawsuits might slow the Trump administration's efforts to reverse these measures. During his campaign, Trump signaled plans to declare a national emergency to expedite deportations and use military resources for enforcement. However, the effectiveness of these plans could be diminished if the new Biden policies remain in place during judicial reviews.
In New York City, where the app will debut, local Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) offices are already overwhelmed. A report from earlier this year revealed that appointments for processing migrants released into the U.S. are booked through October 2032. Critics warn that introducing an unreliable app will only exacerbate these delays and hinder law enforcement efforts.
The Biden administration's adjustments are being implemented as sanctuary cities like New York grapple with surging migrant populations and strained resources. Trump allies argue that the changes are evidence of the need for decisive action. "We need systems that work to protect Americans," Morgan said, emphasizing the urgency of overturning the outgoing administration's policies.
