U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is urging law enforcement agencies across the United States to enroll in the 287(g) program, a federal partnership that enables state and local law enforcement to assist in identifying and detaining individuals who are in the country illegally and involved in criminal activity.
The program provides federal resources, training, and support for participating agencies.
The initiative is based on Section 287(g)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1996 (8 USC 1357), which authorizes ICE to enter into memoranda of agreement (MOAs) with local law enforcement agencies.
Through the agreement, ICE can delegate certain immigration enforcement functions to local officers who operate under ICE direction and supervision.
As of May 29, ICE has signed a record 635 MOAs with law enforcement agencies in 40 states.
These include participation through one or more of three available models: the Jail Enforcement Model (JEM), the Task Force Model (TFM), and the Warrant Service Officer (WSO) model.
According to ICE, the breakdown of signed agreements includes 100 JEM partnerships in 25 states, 228 WSO agreements in 31 states, and 307 TFM agreements in 30 states. An additional 68 applications are pending, which include 7 for JEM, 18 for WSO, and 43 for TFM participation.
Florida leads all states with the highest level of participation.
All 67 county sheriff’s offices in the state have joined the program under at least one of the 287(g) models.
Several counties are involved in all three.
Florida also has the largest number of law enforcement agencies participating overall.
In addition to county sheriff offices, Florida has numerous state agencies signed on to the program.
These include the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Florida Division of Highway Patrol, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida National Guard, Florida State Guard, and other departments such as Environmental Protection, Financial Services, Lottery Services, Alcohol, Beverages and Tobacco, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Gaming Control Commission.
Florida also has over 90 police departments signed onto 287(g) MOAs, including smaller jurisdictions like Indian River Shores and Jupiter Island.
The state is the only one where university police departments are active participants, with agencies from institutions such as Florida A&M University, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, and Florida Gulf Coast University, among others.
Pasco County in Florida is the first in the country where the county board of commissioners has signed on to participate.
Florida is also the only state with airport police departments enrolled, including Melbourne International Airport and Sanford Airport.
Correctional facilities participating in 287(g) in Florida include those located in Jackson, Miami-Dade, Orange, Osceola, and Volusia counties, in addition to the Florida Department of Corrections.
Florida also holds the highest number of pending applications, which include 22 additional police departments, another airport, two universities, and the Florida Department of Agriculture.
Texas has the second highest number of participating sheriff’s offices, with 63 counties enrolled, representing approximately 25% of Texas counties.
ICE encourages Americans who want to see their local law enforcement agencies participate in the 287(g) program to share informational materials such as the ICE 287(g) fact sheet, brochure, or participant map with local officials.
ICE also recommends contacting state legislators and governors to promote program participation by state agencies, universities, airport police departments, and other relevant entities.
ICE officials say the 287(g) program remains an essential tool for removing violent criminal aliens from U.S. communities and that expanding participation across jurisdictions will strengthen public safety nationwide.
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