As President Joe Biden prepares to leave office, he’s adding fuel to the already heated immigration debate. According to insiders who spoke with the New York Post, his team is rolling out a new ICE Portal app in early December, starting in New York City. This app will let migrants skip the usual in-person check-ins with their local ICE offices.
Insiders at Homeland Security are raising concerns about the app, pointing out that it could make it easier for migrants to evade authorities. They’ve found the software to be glitchy and unreliable—definitely not confidence-inspiring.
It’s another move in the ongoing pushback from Democrats against Donald Trump’s immigration policies, particularly those focused on cracking down on illegal immigration and deportations. What seems to be overlooked is that a fair chunk of the American populace supports stronger borders and stricter immigration measures. In fact, a June Gallup poll highlighted that 47% of Americans favor deporting all undocumented immigrants to their home countries. This sentiment was echoed in an October Marquette Law School poll, where 58% of registered voters were in favor of deportations.
CNN has reported that many polls also reflect a desire for legal pathways to citizenship, but that’s a different ballgame from letting folks bypass ICE check-ins. The Post’s sources emphasized that even when this app functions correctly, it doesn’t screen for past arrests or outstanding warrants—something that the traditional in-person check-ins automatically address.
Mark Morgan, the former acting Customs and Border Protection Commissioner, has criticized Biden’s move, describing it as anything but a smooth transition of power. He believes the current administration is trying to erect as many hurdles and obstacles as possible before stepping down.
This approach aligns with sanctuary cities’ efforts to shield migrants from ICE deportation. The timing of this move, alongside the sentencing of Jose Ibarra, an undocumented immigrant convicted of stalking, raping, and murdering a nursing student named Laken Riley, underscores what some see as the insular thinking within progressive circles.
Sanctuary cities, which not too long ago were vocal about the financial and logistical strain of handling migrant populations, seem to have shifted priorities. Trump’s goals to reinforce border security and tighten immigration policies are met with a persistent call to resist from his political opponents.
Post-election, the resistance against Trump among Democrats has been fervent, with everything from women shaving their heads in protest to celebrities threatening to leave the country. Political leaders are making it clear that they intend to provide safe spaces for those who defy immigration laws.
As Trump prepares to take over the White House again, he’ll work on implementing his policies even as Democratic resistance efforts might stall progress through legal challenges. Sanctuary cities will continue to hold their ground as more undocumented migrants enter.
The inevitable question will eventually arise: “What happens next?”
