Some 1,500 illegal immigrant families will be included in a new, $11 million pilot project that amounts to a taxpayer-funded concierge service to help them find benefits such as education, school supplies, housing, medical aid and even transportation.
The newly announced program from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is aimed at helping the families eventually return to their home countries, but critics believe it will encourage more immigrants to illegally enter the country since it heaps favorable benefits on top of those already offered in detention centers where even Zumba classes are provided.
ICE this month issued a “stakeholder notification” explaining the new program. It will place 300 families in five metro areas: Baltimore/Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles; New YorkCity/Newark; Miami; and Chicago. It said that “ICE expects to enroll a maximum of 1,500 families at any one time.”
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A newly-hired case manager will be assigned to them and that person will help the illegal immigrant families find the benefits. The ICE-sponsored case manager will also team with pro-immigrant groups and charities to aid the illegals, said the GEO Group job posting for the “Family Case Management Services Program.”
In addition to preparing an “individualized family service plan,” the government will explain their rights and even provide transportation to families for their court dates which presumably will lead to their deportation. They will also be provided “reintegration planning” before they return home.
According to ICE’s notice, the immigrants will be provided:
— Orientation and education to participants about their rights and responsibilities.
— Individualized family service plans.
— Assistance with transportation logistics.
— Assistance in securing access to housing, education, and medical providers.
— Tracking and monitoring of immigration obligations (to include attendance at immigration court hearings).
— Safe repatriation and reintegration planning for participants who are returning to their home countries.
While developed as a program to help immigrants as they wait out deportation, critics fear it will only encourage more to come across the border. They are also concerned that the pilot program will eventually become a national program.
ICE officials have briefed some on Capitol Hill about the pilot.
One congressional aide familiar with the briefing said taxpayers may get angry at what the U.S. is providing to illegals.
“Look at all the polls and everything going on in the 2016 race for the White House. The American people are fed up with Washington, perhaps more than ever before. $11 million for a ‘pilot program’ that will provide taxi service to illegal aliens? Really? Who can blame Americans for hating us?”
ICE’s notice said the program will begin in December after a 90-day ramp up period that has already started.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
