ICE has used tech to track over 8K people in D.C. area, including Virginia, for ‘alternatives to detention’ so far in 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WRIC) -- From the first day of 2025 to mid-December, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tracked over 8,000 people in the Washington, D.C. area, including Virginia, using technology for "alternatives to detention," according to the agency's data.

ICE is required by the Fiscal Year 2020 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill to share data with the public regarding tracking technology used for those who are in "alternatives to detention," or people the agency is keeping track of, but who are not actively being held in a detention center.

From Jan. 1 through Dec. 13, 2025, ICE used multiple types of technology to track a total of 8,343 people in the D.C. area -- including Virginia -- for "alternatives to detention," according to the agency's data.

Central Virginia ICE detention center is over capacity

Of those 8,343 people ICE tracked using technology, 4,990 people were tracked using ankle monitors, according to ICE's data, for an average of 157 days. Ankle monitors were used more than any other tracking technology in the area and during the time period.

During that time, 3,259 people were reportedly tracked using "SmartLink," which the agency defines as an online tracking device that uses a smartphone or tablet. Those people were tracked for an average of 508 days.

ICE also reportedly tracked 93 people with wrist-worn trackers in the area during that time for an average of 178 days.

One person in the area was tracked using "dual tech," data showed, for about a year and a half -- which began before 2025.

On a national level, ICE has spent an average of $248,344.50 per day on tracking technology for those in "alternatives to detention" from Jan. 1 to Dec. 13, 2025, according to the agency's data, adding up to a total of about $86.2 million so far this year.