Key Takeaways
• 287(g) agreements surged from 456 to 579 by late April 2025, with 444 new since Inauguration Day.
• Trump signed executive orders targeting sanctuary jurisdictions and expanding protections, training, and equipment for local police.
• ICE reported 66,463 immigration arrests and 65,682 removals in Trump’s first 100 days, three-quarters with criminal records.
During the first 100 days of President Trump’s second term, the Trump administration has reached new levels in involving local police departments with federal immigration enforcement. This change marks one of the biggest shifts in how immigration laws are enforced inside the United States 🇺🇸 in years. Officials have expanded a program known as 287(g), allowing many more local law enforcement officers to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) locate and detain immigrants. These moves have sparked strong reactions among supporters and critics, who continue to debate the real impact of letting local police work more closely with ICE.
Rapid Growth of 287(g) Agreements
One of the clearest changes brought by the Trump administration is the rapid growth in the number of 287(g) agreements. Back in December 2024, only a modest number of these agreements were in place. But as of mid-April 2025, ICE reported 456 active 287(g) agreements. By late April, the number of pending and signed agreements climbed to 579, and ICE stated that 444 of those were new since Inauguration Day, January 20, 2025.
So what is a 287(g) agreement? This program lets local law enforcement officers work with ICE and gives them the power to help enforce federal immigration laws. There are three main types of 287(g) partnerships:
- Jail Model: Local officers check people’s immigration status when they are booked into jail.
- Task Force Model: Police can question the immigration status of people during routine stops, such as for traffic violations.
- Warrant Officer Model: Officers are given authority to carry out federal immigration warrants.
All these models allow local officers to detain people suspected of immigration violations and hold them until ICE can take custody. In some cases, officers can issue people a notice to appear in federal immigration court. These changes mean local police are now much more involved with federal immigration enforcement than before.
Two Major Executive Orders Shape Enforcement
Two important executive orders signed by President Trump at the end of April 2025 have pushed these policies forward and sent a clear message to both local governments and law enforcement agencies.
“Strengthening and Unleashing America’s Law Enforcement”
The first executive order, called “Strengthening and Unleashing America’s Law Enforcement,” gives clear instructions to the Attorney General. The main points of this order include:
- Setting up ways to offer legal help and financial protection for law enforcement officers carrying out immigration duties.
- Making sure federal money is used to help train officers better and improve their pay.
- Strengthening legal protections for officers facing lawsuits or complaints.
- Pushing for harsher punishments for anyone who commits crimes against law enforcement officers.
- Giving more surplus military equipment to police departments to help them with their work.
The Trump administration says these steps will help law enforcement officers feel more secure and better equipped to carry out immigration enforcement tasks, whether they are working at the local or federal level.
“Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens”
The second executive order takes sharper aim at so-called “sanctuary jurisdictions”—these are cities, counties, or states that have policies to limit how much their police or officials help with federal immigration enforcement. This order does several things:
- It asks the Attorney General to create and publish a list of sanctuary jurisdictions within 30 days.
- It threatens to take away federal funding from these places unless they change their policies.
- It allows federal officials to look into, and possibly charge, state or local officials if they are found to be helping people avoid immigration laws or blocking enforcement.
- It describes sanctuary jurisdictions as acting against the principle that federal law is the highest law in the country.
This move has made many state and local leaders nervous, as losing federal funding can have big impacts on local programs, jobs, and public services.
Record-Setting Enforcement Numbers
Backing up these new policies, the Trump administration and ICE have rolled out strong numbers to show what’s changed in the first 100 days. ICE reported:
- 66,463 arrests of people who were in the country without legal status.
- 65,682 removals—meaning people who were deported or otherwise made to leave the country.
- 2,288 arrests of alleged gang members.
- 1,329 arrests of people accused or convicted of sex offenses.
- 498 arrests of people accused or convicted of murder.
The administration points out that three out of every four people arrested had criminal records. ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons said the agency is “using every tool at its disposal to enforce our country’s immigration laws and protect our communities.”
As reported by VisaVerge.com, these figures show not just a focus on people who entered the country illegally, but also strong attention on those with criminal backgrounds. The Trump administration presents this as proof that bringing local police into the fold through 287(g) agreements is working as intended.
Concerns About the New Approach
While local police and Immigration and Customs Enforcement working together is not new, the large number of new 287(g) agreements and the stiff language of the executive orders have brought renewed criticism from civil rights groups, legal experts, and many community leaders.
Legal Risks and Lawsuits
One of the main issues is legal risk. Under the U.S. Constitution, police are not supposed to detain people without “probable cause”—clear reasons to believe they have committed a crime. Detaining people just for immigration reasons is different from holding them for criminal acts. Some cities and counties have been sued or threatened with lawsuits because they kept people in jail without a criminal warrant, and courts have, at times, ruled against these practices.
Even under the Trump administration, local governments worry about legal liability if they participate in 287(g) agreements. The administration has responded by trying to cut down on officer training time from four weeks to just one, and by promising “full-scale indemnification,” which means the federal government offers to cover legal costs and penalties for police involved in enforcement.
Impact on Community Trust
Many experts and civil rights organizations argue that involving local police in immigration enforcement can break down trust between officers and the communities they serve. When immigrants fear they’ll be arrested or deported if they speak to police, they may not report crimes or help police with investigations. This can make whole neighborhoods less safe.
Several police chiefs have spoken in the past about the importance of keeping police work separate from federal immigration enforcement. They say that mixing the two can make it harder for officers to solve cases, prevent crime, or keep order, especially in neighborhoods with large immigrant populations.
Resource Strain
There are also questions about resources. Local law enforcement agencies often face tight budgets and limited staff. Some critics argue that making police spend time and money on immigration duties takes away from their ability to address local crime, traffic safety, and other concerns.
Civil Rights and Racial Profiling
Another concern is that 287(g) agreements could lead to racial profiling. This means officers might target people just because of how they look, speak, or where they come from—not because of any proof of wrongdoing. Some cases in the past have shown police stopping or questioning individuals based mainly on their appearance or accent, which civil rights advocates say is unfair and could lead to further discrimination.
Defending the Policy
The Trump administration has stood by its approach, arguing that local law enforcement working directly with ICE is critical for public safety and border security. Supporters point to the high number of arrests involving people with known criminal records as evidence that the system is working. They also argue that withholding federal funds from sanctuary jurisdictions is needed to get local officials to follow federal law and help remove people who are in the country illegally.
The idea is to remove obstacles and give officers both the legal and practical tools—such as more training, better pay, and even military equipment—to carry out their duties. This is meant to protect officers from the threat of lawsuits or violence and allow them to focus on “protecting our communities,” as ICE puts it.
Looking Back—and Ahead
The use of 287(g) agreements goes back several presidential administrations, but the scale and speed seen under the Trump administration is new. Critics say moving so quickly to involve hundreds of new agencies raises questions about training, oversight, and the real effects on immigrant communities and public safety.
Supporters, meanwhile, hope the new approach will make it harder for people who are in the United States 🇺🇸 illegally and who break laws to avoid arrest and deportation. They believe tough enforcement will send a message and deter future violations.
Still, many questions remain. Will these policies truly make communities safer? Or could they have the opposite effect by making immigrants afraid to work with police? The full answer will likely depend on how local police, ICE, and community leaders adapt to this new way of working together, as well as how judges and lawmakers respond to lawsuits and public concerns.
What It Means for Local Communities
For immigrants living in the United States 🇺🇸—especially those without legal status—these changes can bring fear and uncertainty. Even people with legal status might worry about being unfairly targeted or swept up in immigration actions. Local police now have a bigger role than ever before, and their actions can have powerful effects on families, neighborhoods, and entire towns.
For local governments, the choice is not easy. Accepting a 287(g) agreement can mean more money and support from the federal government, but it can also bring lawsuits and angry residents. Rejecting the agreements may lead to a loss of federal funding, which can hurt key programs and services.
Employers, schools, and health care providers may also see changes as more people become wary of sharing information or reaching out for help, afraid that their contact with local officials could lead to immigration checks.
The Path Forward
As the Trump administration continues to push for more and stronger 287(g) agreements and to penalize sanctuary jurisdictions, the debate over local and federal roles in immigration enforcement is far from over. Congress could choose to step in and pass new laws clarifying what local police can and cannot do, or the courts could make new rulings as new lawsuits are filed.
Anyone interested in learning more about the 287(g) program or how local police work with ICE can visit the official ICE 287(g) Program page.
In the meantime, communities across the country watch closely to see how these sweeping changes will affect their lives, safety, and sense of justice. The story of local police working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement is now a central part of the larger debate over America’s immigration future, safety, and the rights of everyone living in the United States 🇺🇸.
Learn Today
287(g) Agreement → A formal partnership allowing local law enforcement to assist ICE in enforcing federal immigration laws, using specific approved models.
Sanctuary Jurisdiction → A city, county, or state limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, often to protect undocumented immigrants from removal.
Executive Order → A directive from the U.S. President with the force of law, typically used to direct federal agencies’ actions and policies.
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) → A federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws, detaining, and removing people lacking legal status.
Notice to Appear → An official document ordering an immigrant to appear before an immigration court for removal proceedings.
This Article in a Nutshell
During President Trump’s second term, local police are more deeply involved in federal immigration enforcement through 287(g) agreements. Executive orders have increased officer protections, threatened sanctuary jurisdictions, and ramped up ICE activity. These sweeping changes have sparked debate, raised concerns about civil rights, and altered public safety strategies nationwide.
— By VisaVerge.com
Read more:
• 287(g) immigration enforcement program expands to Mid-Michigan sheriffs
• University of Florida police to enforce immigration in 287(g) shift
• Understanding the 287(g) Task Force Model in Immigration Enforcement
• Feds Ask Arizona Agencies to Join 287(g) Program, But None Agree Yet
• Trump Expands 287(g) Program, Enlisting Local Police in Immigration Duties
