ICE Expands Local Police Partnerships to Boost Deportations

The Trump administration has dramatically expanded a controversial federal program that deputizes local law enforcement officers to enforce immigration law, transforming what was once a narrowly used tool into a cornerstone of its mass deportation campaign. As of February 2026, ICE reported 1,412 active 287(g) agreements across 40 states and territories — more than 1,130 of them signed in 2025 alone, compared to just 45 agreements in 2019.

What Is the 287(g) Program?

Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, created by the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, allows the Department of Homeland Security to delegate federal immigration enforcement authority to state and local law enforcement officers. Under the program, local officers can question, investigate, and in some cases arrest people for civil immigration violations — authority traditionally reserved for federal agents.

Three main models exist under the program: the jail enforcement model, which checks every person entering a local jail for legal status; the warrant service officer model, which trains local police to serve administrative warrants; and the task force model, which allows officers to stop, question, and arrest people for immigration violations during routine police duties. Task force models make up the majority of agreements currently in place.

The program has existed for three decades, used to varying degrees under both Democratic and Republican administrations. But its current scale is unprecedented. “There has never been the kind of whole-government mobilizing around immigration that we’re currently seeing,” said Doris Meissner, who led the Immigration and Naturalization Service under President Clinton. “Trump’s approach is putting 287(g) agreements on steroids.”

Florida: The Epicenter of Expansion

Florida leads the nation in 287(g) participation. All 67 counties have signed cooperation agreements with ICE, according to the Florida Sheriffs Association. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced in February 2025 that every county sheriff had executed the 287(g) Task Force Model agreement with DHS, making Florida the only state where all counties participate.

Walton County, a fast-growing community along the Florida Panhandle heavily reliant on immigrant labor for construction and tourism, offers a case study in how the program operates on the ground. The sheriff’s office signed a task force agreement in 2024, and Sgt. Oscar D’Lassalas became a certified 287(g) task force officer after completing 40 hours of online training — a process that previously required a monthlong in-person commitment.

“To me, it was just another way to help out as much as I can in my community,” D’Lassalas told NPR.

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office also signed a deal with ICE converting about 48 jail beds into a 72-hour hold facility for immigrant detainees, with the federal government reimbursing the county $72 per inmate per day. The State Board of Immigration Enforcement approved more than $9 million in grants this summer for the sheriff’s office for its work as an ICE holding facility.

Financial Incentives Driving Participation

The administration has deployed significant financial incentives to encourage local law enforcement participation. ICE is offering full reimbursement for the annual salary and benefits of each eligible trained 287(g) officer, including overtime coverage up to 25% of annual salary. The Justice Department is also offering $3 billion in new grants to state and local police who cooperate with ICE on federal immigration enforcement.

“Expanding the 287(g) program makes tremendous sense for the Trump administration, in that it’s a force multiplier, and it increases the number of people who are legally capable of arresting undocumented immigrants dramatically,” said John Sandweg, a former DHS official under Obama.

Civil Rights Concerns and Community Impact

Critics argue the program’s rapid expansion carries serious risks. The ACLU’s February 2026 report, “Deputized for Disaster”, found that at least 77.2 million people — 32 percent of the U.S. population — now live in a county with a local law enforcement agency enlisted in ICE’s 287(g) program. The report documents racial profiling, civil rights violations, and widespread fear in communities across the country.

“ICE is enlisting thousands of state and local police to assist in operations that endanger citizens and noncitizens alike, draining local police resources and driving public fear that any interaction with local law enforcement could lead to violence and abuse,” said Naureen Shah, director of policy and government affairs for immigration at the ACLU.

Sam Lester, an immigrant rights attorney with the ACLU of Florida, said immigration enforcement in the state operates differently than the visible operations seen elsewhere. “In Florida, it’s much more under the radar and in many ways more insidious,” he said. “By far, the vast majority of immigration enforcement is done by local and state law enforcement who are deputized under 287(g).”

Lester added that the ACLU has heard reports of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who are Latino being profiled, asked about their immigration status, and in some cases arrested.

Immigrant workers in Walton County describe living in fear. Alfonso, a 36-year-old undocumented construction worker from Central America, told NPR he has changed his daily routine and stopped going to church or the beach to reduce his risk of detention. “I’m afraid,” he said. “I want to keep working here, but I’m panicking.”

His 22-year-old cousin Ronaldo, also undocumented, expressed resignation: “It will be God’s will. If they send me back to my country, I think I’ll find freedom. This country feels like jail.”

The Impact on Public Safety

Sheriff Michael Adkinson of Walton County acknowledges the tension between enforcement and community trust. “They don’t come to us because they’re afraid of being deported,” he said of immigrant crime victims. “Then conversely, they don’t come to us because in their country of origin, they don’t have great relationships with the police to start with. It’s extremely problematic. And I don’t know how we overcome that.”

Adkinson maintains his office’s role is narrowly focused. “We’re certainly not out doing immigration raids. That’s not what we do,” he said. “But if we come across those individuals who are committing a crime or endangering someone else, in the state of Florida, then we’re certainly going to do that.”

A Growing Backlash

The expansion has also sparked resistance. In February 2026, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger issued an executive order terminating 287(g) agreements between ICE and state agencies. Maryland has considered similar legislation, and New Mexico, Maine, and Delaware have passed laws to ban the program.

Meanwhile, the program’s impact on deportation numbers is significant. DHS reported more than 675,000 deportations as of January 2026 in Trump’s first year back in office. In July 2026, ICE daily arrests reached a record high of 1,400 per day. In West Virginia, “Operation Country Roads” in January 2026 resulted in more than 650 arrests over a two-week period, with over 550 arrests involving state agencies operating under 287(g) — most of those arrested had no criminal records.

What’s Next

As the administration continues to expand the 287(g) program, the debate over its costs and benefits is likely to intensify. Supporters argue the program is a necessary force multiplier for immigration enforcement in communities far from the border. Critics warn of civil rights violations, eroded community trust, and the diversion of local police resources away from core public safety duties.

“There’s a big difference between what you can do and what you should do,” Sheriff Adkinson acknowledged. As more counties weigh the financial incentives against the legal and community risks, that distinction may define the future of local immigration enforcement across the country.