In a last-ditch effort to counter the incoming Trump administration’s immigration policies, the Biden administration is quietly rolling out new initiatives that loosen restrictions on migrants who entered the United States illegally. These measures, sources say, are designed to make it more difficult for President-elect Trump to implement his promised crackdowns and mass deportations.
At the center of these changes is the planned launch of an ICE Portal app in New York City this December. The app, intended to streamline check-ins for migrants, will allow them to bypass in-person visits to ICE offices. Homeland Security insiders warn that the app has significant flaws, including issues with tracking migrants’ locations and verifying their identities. Unlike the current system, which automatically flags arrest records or outstanding warrants, the app doesn’t integrate with ICE’s tracking database—making it easier for migrants to evade authorities.
The app is expected to enroll up to 100,000 migrants in its first wave, adding to the strain on New York City’s already overwhelmed immigration system. NYC’s ICE field office is fully booked for processing appointments until October 2032, reflecting the sheer volume of cases. Meanwhile, the city continues to provide taxpayer-funded shelter for over 58,000 migrants.
Critics argue that the app is emblematic of broader policy changes aimed at dismantling Trump’s immigration agenda. Proposed reforms to ICE’s “Alternatives to Detention” program would give migrants new rights to contest electronic monitoring, such as ankle bracelets. Migrants could request reviews of their monitoring status at any time, potentially leading to lengthy appeals processes that could result in reduced oversight or termination of monitoring entirely.
Former acting Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Mark Morgan condemned these changes as “obstructionist.” He accused the outgoing administration of creating roadblocks to delay Trump’s planned reforms, calling the moves “the opposite of a peaceful transition of power.”
Trump’s incoming administration has pledged to reverse these changes, but experts warn that legal challenges could slow the process. In Trump’s first term, his immigration policies were frequently hampered by court rulings, and similar hurdles are likely in his second term.
With the clock ticking toward Trump’s inauguration, Biden’s changes are being implemented rapidly, sparking concerns about their long-term impact on immigration enforcement. As Trump prepares to take office, these policies set the stage for a significant showdown over America’s immigration system.