Key Takeaways
• ICE has signed 628 MOAs with local law enforcement in 40 states as of May 28, 2025.
• Florida leads with every county jail participating under a 2022 state law.
• The Task Force Model is revived with 231 active agreements and reduced officer training.
As of late May 2025, the United States 🇺🇸 has seen a major shift in immigration enforcement, with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) rapidly expanding its partnerships with local police under the 287(g) program. This move, strongly supported by President Trump, aims to increase deportations and tighten immigration controls across the country. The state of Florida stands out as a key player, with every county jail now participating in the program. This development has sparked both support and concern among law enforcement, immigrant communities, and civil rights advocates.
What Is the 287(g) Program and Why Is It Expanding?
The 287(g) program was created by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. It allows ICE to give local police and sheriff’s deputies the power to enforce federal immigration laws. This means that local officers can help ICE identify, detain, and even start the deportation process for people suspected of being in the country without legal status.
Three Models of the 287(g) Program
There are three main ways local law enforcement can work with ICE under the 287(g) program:
- Task Force Model: Local officers are given the authority to question, detain, and arrest people suspected of breaking immigration laws during their regular police work. This model lets officers check immigration status during traffic stops or other routine activities.
- Jail Enforcement Model: Officers check the immigration status of people already in jail. If someone is found to be in the country without legal status, officers can place an “administrative hold” on them, which means ICE can take custody and start deportation.
- Warrant Service Officer Model: Officers are allowed to serve federal immigration warrants inside jails. This means they can help ICE by officially notifying people in jail that they are wanted for immigration violations.
According to the official ICE 287(g) program page, these agreements are meant to help ICE work more closely with local agencies to enforce immigration laws.
Recent Changes: A Surge in Agreements and a Focus on Florida
Unprecedented Growth in ICE Partnerships
As of May 28, 2025, ICE had signed 628 Memorandums of Agreement (MOAs) with local law enforcement agencies in 40 states. This is a huge jump from just 135 agreements in December 2024. The rapid growth is part of President Trump’s push for stricter immigration enforcement and what he calls “the largest mass deportation in history.”
Florida’s Leading Role
Florida has become the center of this expansion. Nearly half of all 287(g) agreements are in Florida, and every county jail in the state now works with ICE under this program. This follows a state law passed in 2022 that requires all county jails to participate. Sheriff T.K. Waters of Jacksonville, Florida, has said that working with ICE is important for “securing our borders and protecting Floridians.”
Why Is the 287(g) Program Growing Now?
The Trump administration has made immigration enforcement a top priority. President Trump and his team believe that working with local police will help ICE find and deport more people who are in the United States 🇺🇸 without legal status. Tom Homan, the administration’s “Border Czar,” has encouraged sheriffs to join the program, promising legal protection for officers who participate.
Policy Changes Under the Trump Administration
- Revival of the Task Force Model: The Task Force Model, which was stopped by President Obama because of concerns about racial profiling, is now back. As of April 29, 2025, there are 231 active Task Force Model agreements.
- Shorter Training for Officers: The training period for local officers joining the program has been cut from four weeks to just one week. This change is meant to get more officers involved quickly, but some worry it may not be enough time to learn about complex immigration laws and civil rights protections.
How Does the 287(g) Program Work in Practice?
When a local law enforcement agency signs a 287(g) agreement, some of its officers receive special training from ICE. These officers then have the power to:
- Question people about their immigration status
- Place immigration holds on people in jail
- Serve federal immigration warrants
In Florida, for example, if someone is arrested and taken to a county jail, officers can check their immigration status. If the person is found to be in the country without legal status, ICE can be notified, and the deportation process can begin.
Support and Criticism: What Are People Saying?
Supporters’ Views
Supporters of the 287(g) program, including President Trump and many sheriffs, argue that it helps keep communities safe by removing people who have broken immigration laws. They say that local police are in a good position to help ICE because they already interact with people in their communities every day.
Sheriff T.K. Waters of Jacksonville, Florida, has said that partnering with ICE is “critical for securing our borders and protecting Floridians.” Tom Homan, the administration’s Border Czar, has told sheriffs that their support is needed to “secure the border and provide legal protection to officers.”
Concerns from Immigrant Communities and Civil Rights Groups
However, many immigrant advocates and civil rights groups are worried about the program’s impact. They say that giving local police the power to enforce immigration laws can:
- Erode Trust: Immigrants may become afraid to report crimes or cooperate with police, fearing they could be reported to ICE and deported.
- Lead to Racial Profiling: There are concerns that officers may target people based on their appearance, language, or accent, rather than actual evidence of immigration violations.
- Divert Resources: Local police may spend more time on immigration enforcement and less on other public safety duties.
Criminal justice scholars warn that the surge in 287(g) agreements could set a “dangerous precedent” for local policing, making communities less safe by breaking down trust between police and residents.
The Impact on Florida: A Closer Look
Florida’s full participation in the 287(g) program is unique. Every county jail in the state now works with ICE, following a 2022 law that made this cooperation mandatory. This has led to:
- More Deportations: With every jail checking immigration status, more people are being identified for deportation.
- Community Concerns: Some local leaders and advocates worry that immigrants are less likely to report crimes or seek help from police, which could make communities less safe overall.
- Resource Strain: Local law enforcement agencies must dedicate time and staff to immigration enforcement, which can take away from other duties.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, Florida’s approach is seen as a model by some states, but it also highlights the challenges and controversies that come with close cooperation between ICE and local police.
Legal and Practical Challenges
Civil Rights and Legal Risks
The Task Force Model, in particular, has faced criticism for increasing the risk of civil rights violations. When officers are allowed to question people about their immigration status during routine stops, there is a higher chance of racial profiling. This was one reason President Obama ended the Task Force Model during his administration.
Civil rights advocates argue that the program can lead to:
- Unlawful Detentions: People may be held in jail longer than necessary while their immigration status is checked.
- Lawsuits: Local governments could face legal action if officers violate people’s rights.
Training Concerns
Reducing the training period for officers from four weeks to one week has raised questions about whether officers are fully prepared to handle complex immigration cases and avoid civil rights violations. Proper training is important to make sure officers understand both immigration law and the rights of the people they interact with.
Implications for Law Enforcement and Communities
For Law Enforcement
- Increased Workload: Officers must balance their regular duties with new immigration enforcement tasks.
- Community Relations: Police may find it harder to build trust with immigrant communities, making it more difficult to solve crimes and keep neighborhoods safe.
- Legal Protection: The Trump administration has promised legal support for officers, but lawsuits and public criticism remain possible.
For Immigrant Communities
- Fear and Isolation: Many immigrants may avoid contact with police, even if they are victims or witnesses of crimes.
- Access to Services: Fear of deportation can keep people from seeking medical care, education, or other public services.
- Family Separation: Increased deportations can lead to families being split apart, with children sometimes left behind.
National Outlook: Will the 287(g) Program Keep Growing?
The Trump administration has made it clear that it plans to keep expanding the 287(g) program. The goal is to have as many local law enforcement agencies as possible working with ICE. However, not all states are on board. Some states, like California and New Jersey, have passed “sanctuary” laws that limit cooperation with ICE.
Possible Legal Challenges
As the program grows, it may face more legal challenges. States with sanctuary laws may resist federal efforts to force cooperation. Civil rights groups may also file lawsuits if they believe people’s rights are being violated.
Data and Resources
For those interested in learning more about the 287(g) program and its impact, several resources are available:
- The official ICE 287(g) program page offers up-to-date information on current agreements and program details.
- The Markup provides a database and analysis of ICE partnerships with local law enforcement.
- TRAC Immigration tracks data on immigration detention and enforcement trends.
Historical Background: How Did We Get Here?
The 287(g) program has a long and controversial history. It was created in 1996 but was not widely used until President Trump’s first term. During that time, the program expanded quickly, but it also faced criticism for racial profiling and civil rights abuses. President Obama scaled back the program, ending the Task Force Model because of these concerns.
Now, under President Trump’s renewed focus on immigration enforcement, the program is larger than ever. The return of the Task Force Model and the push for more local partnerships mark a significant change in how immigration laws are enforced in the United States 🇺🇸.
What Should Immigrants and Communities Do?
If you live in a state or county that participates in the 287(g) program, it’s important to know your rights:
- You have the right to remain silent if questioned about your immigration status.
- You have the right to speak to a lawyer before answering questions or signing any documents.
- You do not have to open your door to ICE or police unless they have a warrant signed by a judge.
Community organizations and legal aid groups can help immigrants understand their rights and provide support if they are detained.
Takeaways and Next Steps
The expansion of ICE’s 287(g) program, especially in Florida, marks a major change in how immigration laws are enforced at the local level. While supporters argue that it helps keep communities safe, critics warn that it can erode trust, lead to civil rights violations, and make communities less safe overall.
Key points to remember:
- ICE has signed 628 agreements with local law enforcement agencies in 40 states as of May 2025.
- Florida leads the nation, with every county jail participating in the program.
- The Task Force Model, once discontinued, is now back and growing.
- Training for officers has been shortened, raising concerns about preparedness.
- The program faces both strong support and serious criticism from different groups.
For the most current information on the 287(g) program and your rights, visit the official ICE website.
As the debate continues, it’s important for everyone—immigrants, law enforcement, and community members—to stay informed and know where to find help and accurate information. The future of the 287(g) program will likely depend on ongoing legal battles, political changes, and the voices of the communities most affected.
Learn Today
287(g) program → Federal program allowing ICE to delegate immigration enforcement to local law enforcement agencies.
Memorandums of Agreement (MOAs) → Formal documents authorizing cooperation between ICE and local law enforcement agencies.
Task Force Model → 287(g) model letting local officers enforce immigration laws during regular police work and stops.
Jail Enforcement Model → 287(g) model where officers check immigration status of jail detainees and place holds.
Warrant Service Officer Model → Allows officers to serve federal immigration warrants within local jails.
This Article in a Nutshell
The 287(g) program expands rapidly, with ICE partnering nationwide. Florida’s full jail participation highlights more deportations alongside community trust concerns amid reduced training and revived enforcement models.
— By VisaVerge.com
