A Boulder-based company is playing a key role in the Trump administration’s growing immigration surveillance network.
BI Inc., a subsidiary of the private prison giant Geo Group, manufactures the GPS-enabled ankle monitors now being required for thousands of immigrants under new directives from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The devices, assembled in Boulder, are part of ICE’s Alternatives to Detention program, which monitors nearly 183,000 migrants awaiting immigration proceedings. Over 25,000 active participants in the program wear ankle monitors as of July.
However, under a June memo obtained by The Washington Post, ICE is now directing agents to place ankle monitors on nearly all participants “whenever possible,” except for pregnant women, who may be issued wrist devices instead.
The agency recently extended BI’s immigrant-monitoring contract for another year, skipping a competitive bidding process.
Geo Group, which contributed to the Trump campaign, says it is ramping up production in anticipation of tracking “potentially millions” of immigrants.
BI’s ankle bracelets and wrist-worn devices monitor a participant’s location and movement history using satellite technology. The wrist-worn device also has software enabling facial matching, direct messaging and push notifications.
As of July 26, Denver alone has a total of 3,453 active ATD participants. Nearly 200 participants wear ankle monitors and another 219 wear wrist monitors, according to agency data of the program.
The majority of the others in the program use the SmartLINK app, an alternative to body-worn devices, which uses facial recognition as they check in and GPS to determine their location.
Geo Group did not respond to several requests for comment by The Post.
In the next 24 months, BI plans to launch five new products, according to a March Investor Day Management Presentation. Though no additional details were revealed on what type of products will be released, the company aims to use automation and artificial intelligence to enhance operational efficiency.
Additionally, presentation slides said GEO has made a $70 million investment to enhance ICE services capabilities, including investing $16 million to ramp up production of GPS tracking devices.
BI got its start in the 1970s, making tracking devices for livestock. It now operates one of the largest immigrant-monitoring programs in the country from its Boulder hub.
BI also designs, engineers and manufactures alcohol detection and radio frequency monitoring units in Boulder.
The company employs more than 1,000 workers, including technicians, software engineers, assembly professionals and call center representatives, according to their website. Their supply chain includes thousands of additional U.S. workers.
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