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The Hidden Costs of Ankle Monitors: When Tracking Becomes Big Business

Let’s talk about ankle monitors. You’ve probably seen them in crime dramas—clunky devices strapped to someone’s leg, beeping ominously. But what happens when they’re used not just for violent offenders, but for tens of thousands of immigrants awaiting court dates? And what if the company making them has deep ties to political power?

That’s exactly what’s happening right now. ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) plans to expand its ankle monitor program to track over 180,000 immigrants. On the surface, it might sound like a “smart” solution: cheaper than detention, less invasive than cages. But dig a little deeper, and things get messy.

The Money Trail

Here’s the kicker: the company behind these monitors, BI Incorporated, donated at least $1.5 million to Trump’s campaign. That’s not illegal, but it does raise eyebrows. When a company profits from government contracts and donates heavily to the politicians who approve those contracts, it’s hard not to wonder: is this about safety, or just business?

The Human Side

Ankle monitors aren’t just inconvenient—they’re humiliating. Imagine wearing one for months or years, with no clear end in sight. They’re bulky, they buzz at random times, and they’re a constant reminder that you’re being watched. For families trying to navigate a complex legal system, it’s another layer of stress.

And let’s be real: these devices aren’t foolproof. They can malfunction, give false alerts, and even restrict movement unnecessarily. One woman in Texas was arrested because her monitor lost signal—while she was asleep in her own home.

The Bigger Picture

This isn’t just about immigration policy. It’s about how surveillance tech is creeping into everyday life, often with little oversight. Ankle monitors, facial recognition, location tracking—once these tools are normalized, who’s next?

So what can we do? Stay informed. Ask questions. And maybe, just maybe, demand transparency about who’s profiting from these systems—and who’s paying the price.