The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency's non-detained docket has reached a record high of 7.4 million cases in fiscal year 2024, with projections indicating it may hit 8 million by year-end. This surge in cases has posed significant challenges for the agency, as revealed by internal federal data.
The non-detained docket, a component of ICE's Alternatives to Detention program, offers case-management support to released migrants to ensure compliance with release conditions and enhance court appearance rates. However, the overwhelming number of cases has strained ICE's resources, with approximately 6,000 deportation officers nationwide, leading to each officer managing an average of 7,000 cases.
Federal sources have highlighted the difficulty of processing this immense caseload with the current staffing levels, exacerbated by the escalating pace of border crossings. Since October 1, the docket has grown by over 1 million cases and more than doubled since President Biden assumed office in 2021.
Notably, the 1.9 million recorded getaways who entered the country since Biden's presidency are not included in the non-detained docket figures. ICE officers are tasked with locating and removing these migrants, in addition to managing the existing caseload.
Responding to inquiries, a White House spokesperson referenced a failed bipartisan border security bill that aimed to provide additional funding and resources to agencies like ICE. The spokesperson criticized Congressional Republicans for prioritizing political interests over immigration system reforms and border security.
The spokesperson emphasized that the bipartisan agreement could have significantly bolstered border security efforts, underscoring the need for a collaborative approach to address the challenges faced by ICE and other critical agencies.
