The Biden administration is reportedly considering a new policy that would require unauthorized immigrants to remain in Texas after they arrive, in an effort to prevent them from spreading throughout the country. The goal of this proposed policy is to have the migrants in a better place for eventual deportation and to address the overwhelming surge of migrants that has burdened liberal-led cities across the nation.
However, implementing this policy is likely to face opposition from both sides of the immigration debate. Immigrant-rights activists are likely to object to the limitation on migrants’ freedom of movement, while Texas and its allies among conservatives and border-state officials argue that the state has already borne the brunt of the immigrant surge that President Biden has invited.
The proposed policy has been dubbed “remain-in-Texas” by the Los Angeles Times, drawing a parallel to the Trump administration’s controversial “Remain in Mexico” policy. To ensure compliance, the plan would rely on GPS tracking devices assigned to migrants, requiring them to stay near the border.
However, in order to make a significant impact, the Department of Homeland Security would need to significantly increase its use of tracking devices. Currently, the department has only fitted around 9,288 migrants with ankle bracelets and 100 with GPS-tracking watches, which is roughly equal to the number of unauthorized migrants encountered entering the country every two days.
Each GPS bracelet costs the government nearly $3 a day, while the watches cost $4.50 a day.
The border has been a persistent challenge for the Biden administration. Despite initial assurances that the rising numbers were seasonal and would soon decline, the situation has worsened. Earlier this year, Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas celebrated a decline in numbers after implementing certain policies, but recently, the border chaos has once again expanded with historically high numbers reported for the month of August.
Perspective: The proposed policy to require unauthorized immigrants to remain in Texas after they arrive is a controversial approach to address the country’s ongoing immigration challenges. While it aims to centralize migrants in order to facilitate eventual deportation, critics argue that it restricts individuals’ freedom of movement and places an undue burden on Texas, which is already grappling with a significant surge in migrants. This policy highlights the complexities and ongoing debates surrounding immigration reform as the United States continues to navigate this pressing issue.
