The border line between Mexico and the U.S in the community of Sasabe in Sonora state, Mexico, on Jan. 13, 2017. Phot by Alfredo Estrella / AFP - Getty Images
WASHINGTON D.C. (WSAU) – The Biden Administration is set to begin their latest immigration program, which will provide migrants living in several cities across the country with ID cards.
According to Fox News, Immigration and Customs Enforcement intends to conduct a “limited rollout” of its Secure Docket Card initiative this summer, during which 10,000 ID cards will be given to immigrants in as many as four US cities, including Atlanta and Houston with the rest still to be determined.
An ICE spokesperson assured the outlet that the IDs won’t be usable in the same way as traditional U.S. IDs, saying, “While the specifics of the card and pilot are under development, it is important to note the secure card will not be an official form of federal identification,” and continued by saying, “The secure card will indicate it is for use by DHS agencies and would be provided only after national security background checks have been performed.”
The report also included leaked photographs of the new ID cards, which feature the migrant’s photo, ID number, a QR code, as well as other identifying information. However, no information was provided on how much the program would cost taxpayers.
Several recent polls show that immigration continues to be most voters’ top concern heading into this fall election season. A new survey by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and Ipsos that was completed in early April found that 54% of respondents favor continuing construction of the border wall, and 65% of respondents believe that the U.S. government should increase the number of deportations, along with another 66% saying they believe that businesses that hire illegal migrant workers over U.S. workers should face tougher penalties.
In February 2024 alone, the U.S. Border Patrol recorded 140,644 encounters between ports of entry along the southwest border. Since May 12, 2023, and until February 29, 2024, DHS has removed or returned over 593,000 people to their native countries, with the vast majority of those entering the U.S. through the southwest border. DHS’s data also notes that since last May, total removals and deportations have exceeded those of any complete fiscal year since 2012.
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