


Border czar Tom Homan expressed support for expanding the use of GPS-enabled ankle monitors on illegal immigrants, as the Trump administration continues its crackdown at the southern border.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement reportedly directed employees to increase the number of illegal immigrants shackled with ankle monitors in a June 9 memo.
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“I’m not in the weeds. If that’s happening, I support it,” Homan told reporters Thursday afternoon at the White House in response to the report.
“I looked at the numbers the other day on the removal orders over the last year, 51% of those who got a removal order were in absentia, which means they didn’t show up in court. So ankle monitors help with that,” he continued.
The June 9 memo, reported by the Washington Post, ordered ICE personnel to place GPS ankle monitors on illegal immigrants enrolled in the Alternatives to Detention program “whenever possible.” Currently, roughly 183,000 adult immigrants are enrolled in ATD, but only 24,000 wear ankle monitors.
An ICE spokesperson told the Washington Examiner the agency does not comment on alleged internal memos
When asked if every illegal immigrant should wear an ankle monitor, Homan further clarified that each case is different.
“Deportation will make that judgment based on criminal history, immigration history, so it’s a case-by-case basis. But I can tell you, back when I was ICE Director, having that GPS capability increased those going to court a lot. So it does make a difference, and it’s cheaper than detention, right, in some cases,” he said.
Public dissatisfaction with Trump’s handling of immigration may have played a factor in lowering the president’s approval numbers. Trump currently has an average disapproval number of 52.8% and a 45.3% approval rating, according to RealClearPolitics. Democrats are also facing low approval numbers from the public, who are dissatisfied with their conduct in the minority party.
The Washington Examiner questioned Homan about whether reports of harsh tactics to deport grandmothers and other sympathetic figures contributed to Trump’s lower poll numbers. The border czar instead blamed the media for poor coverage of the administration’s deportation agenda.
“The vast majority of people we arrested are criminals, but who are the others, the national security threats and final orders?” Homan said. “I don’t read that anywhere.”
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“The media is pushing a false narrative out there, which may be turning some people off. I don’t believe it, but let’s start telling the truth,” he added.
Nevertheless, Homan said the administration will “stay ahead of the game” and “have our own narrative.”
Anna Giaritelli contributed to this report.