An internal Canadian government report recently proposed a program to release illegal aliens and monitor them with electronic ankle monitors, rather than detain them in government detention facilities.
The proposed program is viewed as a cost-saving measure, one where detained immigrants can be released while they await appearances before immigration officials or eventual deportation.
The government in Ottawa reports that it spends $239 a day detaining illegal aliens. The electronic ankle monitoring system would cost a fraction of that.
The study does note that the immigrant would need to stay in an area where phone service is in effect for the monitors to operate properly. There are also questions about how appropriate it is for elderly immigrants or the mentally ill, and says that the effects it might have on pregnant or nursing mothers are unknown.
The Canadian Council for Refugees has praised the idea claiming that “limited use” of ankle monitors is better than incarceration.
Government officials, however, hasten to point out that this study is only the first step in the consideration of such a program.
“Timelines for the completion of this analysis, and possible implementation of any resultant initiatives, are currently being refined,” Border agency spokeswoman Esme Bailey said.
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