Statement regarding the Family Expedited Removal Management Program

The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to imposing immigration consequences in a safe and humane manner to those who fail to use available lawful pathways and unlawfully enter the United States. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Family Expedited Removal Management (FERM) process places certain family unit heads of household on Alternatives to Detention, following apprehension at the Southwest Border and placement into expedited removal (ER). The process provides supervision while the family awaits an interview to assess their credible fear of persecution or torture. FERM enrollment consists of GPS monitoring with a mandatory home curfew, 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., daily. While FERM initially began in four locations, DHS is quickly expanding to cities across the country and is removing families who are determined to be ineligible for relief and are ordered removed through this non-detained enforcement process.