IMMIGRATION

WHAT IS ISAP - INTENSIVE SUPERVISION APPEARANCE PROGRAM

	Gail S. Seeram

By GAIL S. SEERAM

To address the issues of aliens who fail to appear in court or fail to depart under the court's order, ICE (Immigration and Custom Enforcement) has instituted the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP).

ISAP is a program that will only be available to aliens who are not subject to mandatory detention; who are pending immigration court proceedings or awaiting removal from the United States; are residing within the managed area; and are not deemed a threat by the Department of Homeland Security.

ISAP is a voluntary program and all participants must agree to comply with the conditions of their release. Case specialists are then assigned a limited caseload of participants and responsible for monitoring those participants in the community by using tools such as electronic monitoring (bracelets), home visits, work visits and reporting by telephone.

Non-governmental organizations have a range of concerns about the ISAP program, including its call for the use of electronic monitoring devises, such as an anklet. Advocacy organizations also are concerned that the program may be applied to immigrants who would otherwise be released from detention without supervision on a bond. It seems as if releasing an immigrant on bond is now being replaced by placing the immigrant in the ISAP program.

Also, immigrants in the ISAP program have a sense that they are treated as hard-core criminals, as they have to report to the ISAP office weekly and/or monthly, are told to be home by a certain time, have to account to their assigned case specialist on how every hour of their day is spent, and lastly must wear a bulky black anklet.

Additionally, the ISAP cases that appear before an immigration judge are treated expeditiously. The immigration judges give less preparation time to the attorneys representing clients in the ISAP program.

It is important to note that the ISAP program is not part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Instead, it is administered by an independent contractor approved by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Gail S. Seeram, an immigration attorney, handles cases involving family petitions, business/investors visas, citizenship, deportation, asylum, work authorization and extension of status. Call her office toll- free at 1-877-GAIL-LAW (1-877-424-5529), send an email at [email protected] or visit www.go2lawyer.com