ICE has 7.4 million cases on non-detained docket, Fox reports

As the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency’s non-detained docket has ballooned to over 7 million cases in fiscal year 2024, concerns over staffing shortages and increased workload have come to the forefront. The non-detained docket is a crucial component of ICE’s Alternatives to Detention program, offering case-management support to released migrants to ensure compliance with release conditions and court appearance rates.

The staggering surge in the number of migrants on the docket has put a strain on ICE’s workforce, with approximately 6,000 deportation officers spread thin across the country. Each officer handling the non-detained docket is now shouldering an average of 7,000 cases, highlighting the overwhelming burden faced by the agency.

Since October 1 alone, the non-detained docket has seen an addition of more than 1 million cases, more than doubling since President Biden assumed office in 2021. The numbers paint a stark picture of the challenges ICE is grappling with, especially as the agency grapples with tracking down and removing the nearly 1.9 million recorded getaways who have entered the country since Biden’s inauguration.

The complexity of the situation is further compounded by the fact that these 1.9 million migrants lack any contact with the Department of Homeland Security, leaving ICE officers with the monumental task of locating and removing them while still managing the burgeoning non-detained docket.

The magnitude of the issue was starkly highlighted by TV host Bill Maher, who warned about the impending immigration chaos and its potential impact on the Democratic Party come election day. The pressure on ICE to navigate these challenges while upholding its mission underscores the need for comprehensive and strategic solutions to address the current influx of cases.

In a bid to address the mounting concerns, President Biden recently visited the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, underscoring the gravity of the situation and signaling a concerted effort to tackle the issues at hand. However, with the numbers on the non-detained docket continuing to rise, it is evident that a multi-faceted approach is essential to effectively manage the growing caseload and ensure the integrity of the immigration system.