Key Takeaways
• Federal government tripled 287(g) agreements with local police in past 100 days, increasing immigration enforcement.
• Department of Justice found Latino drivers up to nine times more likely stopped under 287(g) policing.
• March 2025 border crossings hit historic low, while internal immigration arrests and detentions sharply rise.
Concerns Grow Over Racial Profiling as U.S. Expands Immigration Policies and the 287(g) Program
Immigration enforcement in the United States 🇺🇸 is facing renewed scrutiny after a panel of experts and advocates warned that current immigration policies—especially the expansion of the 287(g) program—are leading to increased racial profiling. This warning, delivered at the Manatee Tiger Bay Club on May 22, 2025, comes as the federal government rapidly increases partnerships with local law enforcement, raising urgent questions about the impact on minority communities and the future of civil rights protections.
What is happening, who is involved, and why does it matter? The federal government has tripled the number of agreements with local police under the 287(g) program in just the past 100 days. These agreements allow local officers to act as immigration agents, a move that immigrant advocates say is resulting in more racial profiling, especially against Latino and Black residents. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, these developments are part of a broader trend of intensifying interior immigration enforcement, even as border crossings have dropped to historic lows.
The 287(g) Program: How It Works and Why It’s Controversial
The 287(g) program is a partnership between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local or state law enforcement agencies. Under this program, local officers receive federal training and authority to enforce immigration laws, which are typically the responsibility of federal agents.
There are two main models of the 287(g) program:
- Jail Enforcement Model: Local officers identify and process people for deportation after they have been arrested for other crimes and are already in jail.
- Task Force Model: Local officers can check immigration status and enforce immigration laws during routine policing, such as traffic stops or neighborhood patrols.
Why is the task force model especially controversial? Critics argue that it gives local police too much power to question people about their immigration status during everyday encounters, which can lead to racial profiling—when people are targeted by law enforcement based on their race or ethnicity rather than any specific suspicion of wrongdoing.
In states like Florida, the 287(g) program has expanded rapidly. State lawmakers passed SB1808, requiring any law enforcement agency with a detention facility to sign a 287(g) agreement with ICE. This means more local officers are now involved in federal immigration enforcement than ever before.
For more information on the 287(g) program, visit the official ICE 287(g) program page.
Evidence of Racial Profiling Linked to Immigration Policies
Multiple investigations and academic studies have found that the 287(g) program and similar immigration policies can lead to racial profiling. Here are some of the most important findings:
Department of Justice Investigations
- Maricopa County, Arizona: In 2011, the Department of Justice (DOJ) found that the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, after joining the 287(g) program, engaged in a pattern of unconstitutional policing. Latino drivers were up to nine times more likely to be stopped than non-Latino drivers. Officers conducted “sweeps” in Latino neighborhoods, often stopping people without clear cause.
- Alamance County, North Carolina: A 2012 DOJ investigation found similar problems. Latino drivers were up to ten times more likely to be stopped than others, and deputies targeted Latino communities for traffic stops and questioning.
Academic Research
- A 2022 study from Texas A&M University found that even law enforcement agencies near those with 287(g) agreements showed increased discriminatory behavior, suggesting that the program’s influence spreads beyond its direct participants.
- Researchers have consistently shown that the 287(g) program creates an environment where racial profiling is more likely, especially against Latino and Black residents.
Recent Statistical Evidence
- ICE-initiated arrests have more than doubled in recent months, according to government data.
- Immigration detention numbers are rising, though limited by available bed space.
- The administration plans to expand contracts with private prisons, aiming to more than double detention capacity at a projected cost of $45 billion.
These findings suggest that the expansion of immigration enforcement under current policies is having a real and measurable impact on minority communities.
Real-World Examples: How Racial Profiling Affects Families
To understand the human impact, consider the experience of a Latino family in Florida. After the local sheriff’s office joined the 287(g) program, the father was stopped for a minor traffic violation. Even though he had not committed any crime, officers questioned him about his immigration status. He was detained and placed in deportation proceedings, leaving his U.S. citizen children without their primary caregiver. Stories like this are becoming more common, according to community advocates.
Another example comes from North Carolina, where Black and Latino residents report being stopped more frequently by police since the local department joined the 287(g) program. Many say they now avoid calling the police, even in emergencies, for fear of being questioned about their immigration status.
Border Enforcement: A Different Picture
While interior enforcement is ramping up, the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border looks very different. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP):
- March 2025 saw the lowest number of southwest border crossings in history.
- The U.S. Border Patrol averaged 264 apprehensions per day in March 2025, down 20% from February and a staggering 94% lower than March 2024.
- In total, only 7,181 people were apprehended crossing the border between ports of entry in March 2025, a 95% decrease from the same month the previous year.
These numbers show that while fewer people are trying to cross the border, the government is focusing more on finding and detaining people already living in the United States 🇺🇸.
For official border enforcement statistics, visit the CBP Southwest Border Encounters page.
The Legal and Historical Context: Why Racial Profiling Persists
Racial profiling in immigration enforcement is not new. U.S. immigration law has a long history of targeting specific racial and ethnic groups, from the Chinese Exclusion Act of the 19th century to more recent national security policies.
Today, enforcement relies on:
- Surveillance technologies (like facial recognition and license plate readers)
- Discretionary enforcement (where officers have wide latitude to decide whom to question or detain)
- Legal categories that can disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minorities
Scholars argue that these systems, even if not explicitly racist, can still have a discriminatory impact. For example, if police focus their immigration enforcement efforts in Latino neighborhoods, residents of those areas are more likely to be stopped and questioned, regardless of their actual immigration status.
Some experts describe this as institutional racism—where policies and practices, even if neutral on their face, end up harming certain groups more than others.
Political Context: The Role of Project 2025 and Civil Rights
The expansion of immigration enforcement is happening alongside broader political debates about civil rights and equality. Project 2025, a policy plan developed by far-right groups, calls for rolling back many civil rights protections and ending government efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- The plan would direct the Department of Justice to lead an “equity purge,” reversing previous efforts to address discrimination.
- Civil rights advocates warn that these changes would make it even harder to challenge racial profiling and other forms of discrimination in immigration enforcement.
This political context makes the current debate over immigration policies and racial profiling even more urgent.
Resistance and Reform: How Communities Are Responding
Despite the expansion of the 287(g) program and other enforcement measures, there is significant resistance:
- Lawsuits: Civil rights groups have filed lawsuits challenging racial profiling and unconstitutional policing under the 287(g) program.
- Grassroots Advocacy: Community organizations are educating residents about their rights and pushing local governments to end 287(g) agreements.
- Policy Reform: Some cities and counties have voted to withdraw from the 287(g) program, citing concerns about racial profiling and community trust.
For example, after years of advocacy, several counties in North Carolina ended their 287(g) agreements, leading to fewer reports of racial profiling and improved relationships between police and immigrant communities.
What Does This Mean for Immigrants, Families, and Employers?
The expansion of immigration enforcement and the 287(g) program affects many groups:
- Immigrants: Increased risk of being stopped, questioned, or detained based on appearance or language, even if they have legal status.
- Families: Fear of separation and reluctance to engage with law enforcement, schools, or healthcare providers.
- Employers: Challenges in hiring and retaining workers, especially in industries that rely on immigrant labor, due to increased detentions and deportations.
These impacts go beyond statistics—they shape daily life for millions of people across the United States 🇺🇸.
What Can You Do? Practical Guidance
If you or someone you know is affected by these policies, here are some steps you can take:
- Know Your Rights: Everyone in the United States, regardless of immigration status, has certain rights when interacting with law enforcement. Community organizations often provide “Know Your Rights” workshops and materials.
- Seek Legal Help: If you are detained or questioned about your immigration status, contact an immigration attorney as soon as possible. You can find a list of accredited legal service providers on the U.S. Department of Justice website.
- Get Involved: Join local advocacy groups working to end racial profiling and promote fair immigration policies. Your voice can make a difference in local and national debates.
The Road Ahead: Ongoing Monitoring and Advocacy
As the federal government continues to expand immigration enforcement through programs like 287(g), concerns about racial profiling are likely to remain at the forefront of public debate. Ongoing research, legal challenges, and community advocacy will be essential to ensure that immigration policies do not violate the rights of minority communities.
According to VisaVerge.com, the future of immigration enforcement in the United States 🇺🇸 will depend on the outcome of these debates and the willingness of policymakers to address the real-world impacts of their decisions.
Key Takeaways:
- The 287(g) program allows local police to enforce federal immigration laws, leading to increased reports of racial profiling.
- Department of Justice investigations and academic studies have documented patterns of discrimination, especially against Latino and Black residents.
- While border crossings are at historic lows, interior enforcement and detentions are rising sharply.
- Political efforts to roll back civil rights protections could make it harder to challenge racial profiling in the future.
- Community resistance, legal action, and policy reform offer hope for more just and equitable immigration policies.
For the latest official information on immigration enforcement and your rights, visit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website.
By staying informed and engaged, individuals and communities can help shape a fairer and more effective approach to immigration in the United States 🇺🇸.
Learn Today
287(g) Program → A federal partnership allowing local police to enforce immigration laws after special training.
Racial Profiling → Targeting individuals for suspicion based on race or ethnicity rather than specific evidence.
ICE → U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, federal agency enforcing immigration laws and detaining immigrants.
Interior Enforcement → Immigration law enforcement actions conducted inside the country away from border areas.
Task Force Model → 287(g) approach allowing local officers to check immigration status during routine policing.
This Article in a Nutshell
The expansion of the 287(g) program grants local police immigration enforcement authority, raising racial profiling concerns. Despite low border crossings, interior enforcement and detentions surge. DOJ investigations highlight discrimination against Latino and Black communities. Activists push for reform amid political threats to civil rights protections and increased resistance from affected communities.
— By VisaVerge.com
Read more:
• ICE raids raise concerns over profiling Hispanic and Navajo
• Federal grand jury indicts eight for immigration-related crimes in Alabama
• KXAN report reveals new trends in deportation across Texas
• South Dakota officials call for expanded role in immigration enforcement
• US Homeland Security budget sees record funding boost in 2026 proposal
