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The Biden administration hopes to dispense thousands of ID cards to migrants in the coming weeks as part of an effort to update the documentation that US government agencies provide illegal border-crossers.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement is planning on a “limited rollout” of its Secure Docket Card program this summer that would see roughly 10,000 ID cards distributed to migrants in as many as four US cities, according to Fox News.
Two potential locations are Houston and Atlanta, a source told the outlet.
The program aims to “modernize documentation provided to some noncitizens,” according to ICE, which notes that the cards are only intended for use by Department of Homeland Security agencies — such as ICE, Customs and Border Protection and Citizenship and Immigration Services.
“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,” ICE told Fox News.
“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 agency added.
Migrants who cross the border illegally are typically given paper documents indicating their status and future immigration court dates before they are released into the country.
ICE claims paper documents are unsecured, inefficient and can get lost or deteriorate over time, thus the need for ID cards.
“Moving to a secure card will save the agency millions, free up resources and ensure information is quickly accessible to DHS officials while reducing the agency’s FOIA backlog,” an ICE spokesperson told Fox News.
“For provisionally released noncitizens, the digital modernization will provide ongoing access to important immigration documents through the secure card and connected portal.”
Leaked images of the new cards obtained by the outlet show that they will contain a photograph of the migrant, a QR code, ID number and other identifying information.
It is unclear what the cost to taxpayers will be for the program.
ICE did not respond to The Post’s request for comment.
Nearly 8 million migrants have crossed the southern border into the US since President Biden took office, including more than 189,000 individuals in March, the most recent month for which data is available, according to CBP.
As such, the 10,000 cards to be distributed under the pilot program would cover less than 1% of migrants who have entered the country since 2021.
Several Republican House lawmakers introduced legislation last year to block the plan.
They argued that ID cards would further incentivize illegal immigration into the US.
“Under the Biden administration’s open-border policies, illegal border crossings have reached an unsustainable record high, wreaking havoc on our nation’s communities. It’s incomprehensible to think we would reward this criminal behavior by granting those present in the country illegally an ID that all but legitimizes their presence and is intended to be used in ways beyond their immigration proceedings,” Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), one of the co-sponsors of the so-called No IDs for Illegals Act, said in a statement last October.
“It’s insulting to those who made sacrifices in order to follow our nation’s laws to live the American dream,” the congressman added.
