The Biden administration hopes to distribute thousands of ID cards to immigrants in the coming weeks as part of an effort to update the documentation that U.S. government agencies provide to those who cross the border illegally.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans a “limited rollout” of its Secure Docket Card program this summer, which will see about 10,000 ID cards distributed to immigrants in the four largest U.S. cities. According to Fox News.
According to officials, there are two potential locations: Houston and Atlanta.
According to ICE, the program aims to “modernize the documentation provided to some noncitizens,” and the cards will be sent to Department of Homeland Security agencies such as ICE, Customs and Border Protection, and Citizenship and Immigration Services. states that it is intended solely for use by.
“While the card and pilot details are under development, it is important to note that the secure card is not an official form of federal identification,” ICE told FOX News.
“Secure cards indicate use by DHS agencies and are provided only after a national security background check is conducted,” the agency added.
Immigrants who cross the border illegally are typically given a paper document indicating their status and future immigration court dates before entering the country.
ICE argues that ID cards are necessary because paper documents are insecure, inefficient, and can be lost or degraded over time.
“By moving to secure cards, the agency will save millions of dollars, free up resources, give DHS employees faster access to information, and reduce the agency’s FOIA backlog. ,” an ICE spokesperson told Fox News.
“For provisionally released noncitizens, digital modernization provides continued access to important immigration documents through secure cards and connected portals.”
Leaked images of the new cards obtained by this news organization show that they include the migrants’ photos, QR codes, ID numbers and other identifying information.
It’s unclear how much the program will cost taxpayers.
ICE did not respond to The Post’s request for comment.
According to CBP, nearly 8 million migrants have flown into the United States across the southern border since President Biden took office, including 18 in March, the most recent month for which data is available. It includes more than 9,000 people.
The 10,000 cards distributed under the pilot program will therefore cover less than 1% of immigrants entering the country from 2021 onwards.
Several Republican House members introduced legislation last year to block the plan.
They argued that ID cards would encourage more illegal immigration into the United States.
“Under the Biden Administration’s open borders policy, illegal border crossings are reaching unsustainable record numbers and wreaking havoc on our nation’s communities. It is incomprehensible to think that it almost justifies their stay and gives them an identity document that is meant to be used beyond immigration processing,” said Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas). One of the co-sponsors of the so-called “No ID for Torts Act” said in a statement last October.
“It’s an insult to those who have sacrificed to obey our laws in order to achieve the American Dream,” he added.
