US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is significantly expanding its collaboration with state and local law enforcement agencies through the 287(g) Memorandum program, a partnership that allows trained local officers to perform certain federal immigration enforcement duties under ICE supervision.

Established under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the program authorizes ICE to enter into written agreements with state and local agencies.

According to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), the partnership allows selected local officers to “perform certain functions of an immigration officer under the direction and supervision of ICE” within their jurisdictions.

The agreement also makes clear that local officers may exercise those immigration powers “only as provided in this MOA,” while their regular policing responsibilities remain under the supervision of their own law enforcement agency.

Before receiving immigration authority, participating officers must complete mandatory ICE training covering immigration law, civil rights, use-of-force policies, detention procedures and operational issues.

The MOA states that officers must “successfully complete mandatory training” and pass examinations before being certified. Even after certification, it emphasizes that officers “are not authorized to perform immigration officer functions except when working under the supervision or direction of ICE.”

Trump administration broadens local enforcement role. The Trump administration has dramatically expanded the reach of the 287(g) program as part of its wider immigration enforcement strategy, recruiting hundreds of state and local law enforcement agencies nationwide.

Unlike previous versions of the program, which largely focused on identifying undocumented immigrants already held in local jails, the expanded Task Force Model enables trained officers to enforce immigration laws during routine policing activities, including traffic stops.

The administration has also introduced financial incentives to encourage participation. New partner agencies can receive funding for vehicles and equipment, while ICE covers overtime costs and, in some cases, salaries for officers assigned full-time to immigration enforcement.

As a result, more than 2,180 local task force partners have signed agreements across 31 states, ranging from sheriff’s offices and police departments to state agencies. According to a report by New York Times, Florida became the first state to mandate participation by local agencies, with Texas later adopting a similar requirement.

“The 287(g) program can be a tremendous asset to you and to the country,” Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told the National Sheriffs’ Association conference. “If we had the participation of all the county sheriffs that are in this building right now, think how much faster those arrests would move up.”

How the partnership works on the ground, one example of the expanded program is the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office in Wyoming. During a five-hour patrol in May, deputies made 41 traffic stops, issued 12 citations, carried out two criminal arrests and detained seven immigrants through their partnership with ICE.

Under the MOA, certified officers are authorized to “interrogate any alien or person believed to be an alien as to his right to be or remain in the United States” and process individuals arrested on state or federal criminal charges for immigration violations.

They may also issue immigration detainers, prepare charging documents for ICE review and transport detainees to ICE-approved detention facilities while operating under ICE supervision.

Sheriff Brian Kozak said the arrangement helps speed up the handling of immigration cases.

“If someone is undocumented, it’s faster for our deputies to book them on an ICE hold and not even do the local charges. Then they don’t have to sit in my jail waiting for those local charges to be adjudicated,” he said, adding that serious felony offenses would still be prosecuted locally.

Since joining the program, Laramie County has trained over 30 task force officers, made more than 400.

Supporters argue that the partnerships strengthen public safety by allowing local agencies to work more closely with federal immigration authorities while improving efficiency in processing detainees.

Critics, however, warn that the expanded role of local police could discourage undocumented immigrants from reporting crimes or cooperating with law enforcement for fear of deportation. Civil rights advocates have also raised concerns about the risk of racial profiling, citing past Justice Department findings involving some earlier 287(g) partnerships.

However, the MOA adds that participating officers “are bound by all applicable federal civil rights statutes and regulations” and must provide interpreters for individuals with limited English proficiency when needed. It also gives ICE the authority to suspend or terminate agreements if serious misconduct or violations of the partnership occur.

“It’s a balancing act,” said Benjamin Cox, police chief in Duncan, South Carolina. “I need the people in our town, no matter their immigration status, to feel comfortable calling me. That’s the most challenging part of 287(g).”

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson rejected claims that the agreements encourage racial profiling, maintaining that ICE’s local partners fairly enforce immigration laws.