‘Traumatizing and abusive’: Immigrants reveal personal toll of ankle monitors

While Biden defends electronic bands as alternative to detention, advocates urge proper legal help for immigrants show up to court

Immigrants in America who are forced to wear electronic ankle monitors suffer from an emotional, mental and physical toll, which includes trouble sleeping, mental health problems, problems at work and thoughts of suicide, a new report reveals.

The news comes amid an effort by the Biden administration to boost the use of the monitors as an alternative to putting people in brick-and mortar prisons as they await the outcome of their immigration cases.