Increased Collaboration with ICE Among Local Law Enforcement Raises Questions
Local law enforcement agencies are increasingly collaborating with ICE through the federal 287(g) program, according to a recent report by advocacy group FWD.us. The program, which includes models like the jail enforcement and warrant service officer model, enables officers to check immigration statuses and cooperate with ICE in handling individuals with immigration-related issues.
FWD.us vice president of national initiatives, Rena Karefa-Johnson, highlights the resurgence of the task force model, which empowers local officers to conduct immigration-related stops and arrests. “Really the new bigger incentive is the just money, it’s just kind of the full, blanket influx of cash,” she said. “In this new iteration, the administration has promised to reimburse police departments for full salaries overtime, bonuses, start-up costs for officers trained in this program.”
This financial incentive marks a departure from previous administrations, as agreements prior to the current administration did not include such benefits. The jail force model faced suspension during the Obama era due to racial profiling lawsuits, notably against former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
FWD.us estimates that ICE might allocate up to $2 billion to state and local agencies participating in this program, surpassing other federal law enforcement funding. Approximately 13,800 to 15,800 officers have been trained for immigration enforcement, surpassing the 12,000 new personnel ICE has recruited directly.
The report suggests potential growth in funding, stating, “If agency sign-ups continue at their current pace or even faster and are funded by ICE for all the promised benefits, this funding would continue to balloon,” with projections of $3.6 billion by 2027, potentially involving 31,000 deputized officers.
NPR’s analysis indicates over 1,400 active 287(g) agreements nationwide. In Arizona, agreements have doubled since the Trump administration began, adding five new agreements in the last year alone. Among these, only one belongs to the task force model, signed by Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller in August, later temporarily blocked due to legal challenges.
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