ICE's Local Police Immigration Program Has Exploded to Nearly 2,400 Agreements Nationwide

A Federal Program Transformed Into a Nationwide Force

As of August 26, 2026, ICE has signed 2,382 Memorandums of Agreement for 287(g) programs covering 39 states and 2 U.S. territories — including Jail Enforcement Model agreements with 182 law enforcement agencies in 30 states, Warrant Service Officer agreements with 546 agencies in 34 states, and Task Force Model agreements with 1,654 agencies in 32 states. The numbers are staggering, and they represent one of the most sweeping expansions of immigration enforcement infrastructure in American history.

This represents a dramatic increase — often reported as over 900% growth — from approximately 135 agreements at the start of the current administration in January 2025. To put that in plain terms: a program that was once a relatively modest partnership between federal immigration authorities and a handful of local agencies has, in less than two years, been reengineered into a coast-to-coast enforcement network.

What Section 287(g) Actually Does

The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 added Section 287(g) to the Immigration and Nationality Act, authorizing ICE to delegate state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform specified immigration officer functions under ICE's direction and oversight. In practice, that means your local sheriff's deputy or municipal police officer can, under this program, function as an immigration enforcement agent.

Officers complete specialized ICE training before receiving authority to identify and detain unauthorized immigrants during law enforcement processes such as arrests or jail intake. Local officers authorized under 287(g) can verify immigration status, issue detainers requesting ICE custody, and refer individuals for removal proceedings. ICE bears the cost of 287(g) training for law enforcement agencies. The three operational models — Jail Enforcement, Warrant Service Officer, and Task Force — each carry different levels of authority and reach into communities.

Supporters and Critics Draw Sharp Battle Lines

The program enhances the safety and security of communities by allowing ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations to partner with state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to identify and remove criminal aliens who are amenable to removal from the United States. Supporters argue it gives local departments powerful tools to address public safety without waiting on federal resources. Earlier analysis of a leaked ICE record showed that $257 million had already been paid or promised to state and local law enforcement agencies, out of a total $1.4 to $2 billion estimated to flow in 2026 alone.

While proponents argue these agreements improve public safety by removing dangerous criminals, critics highlight concerns about racial profiling, civil rights violations, and the erosion of trust between immigrant communities and local police. Community members may avoid calling the police or government offices for help out of fear of immigration checks — a fear that makes immigrant communities vulnerable to crime, exploitation, and isolation. The pushback has been vocal and, in some places, effective: in 2026 and the waning months of 2025, New Mexico, Maine, and Maryland all enacted legislation to ban 287(g) agreements, joining six other states who have long prohibited participation in the program.

The Road Ahead for Local Enforcement

ICE has also penned agreements with state National Guards in Texas, Florida, and West Virginia, and has tapped campus police departments and even agencies that are not traditionally law enforcement-oriented, like the Florida Department of Lottery Services. That breadth signals the administration's intent to use every available institutional lever to expand enforcement capacity well beyond traditional policing.

The number of ICE agreements has seen fluctuations over the years. While there have been periods of expansion, there have also been instances of agreements being terminated or suspended due to changes in federal policy, legal challenges, and local community pressure. As of 2026, the trend varies regionally, with some jurisdictions actively pursuing these partnerships while others choose to opt out. With nearly 2,400 agreements now active and legal challenges continuing to mount, the 287(g) program has become one of the defining fault lines of American immigration policy — and its trajectory will shape how millions of people experience law enforcement in their own neighborhoods for years to come.