Local Police 287(g) Partnerships Surge, Sparking Rights Concerns
An FWD.us analysis found 1,168 agencies trained to assist ICE as of Jan. 26, while ICE reported 1,415 287(g) MOUs across 40 states as of Feb. 13, 2026.
Overview
FWD.us analysis found that 1,168 local law enforcement agencies had officers trained to assist ICE as of Jan. 26, up from 135 during the Biden administration.
ICE reported it had signed 1,415 memoranda of understanding under section 287(g) covering 40 states as of Feb. 13, 2026.
Former officials from DHS's Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties warned that the program's expansion, coupled with reduced oversight, could threaten civil rights and said a Congress-ordered report has not been released.
FWD.us estimates participating agencies could receive between $1.4 billion and $2 billion this year, and ICE is offering up to $7,500 per trained officer and up to $100,000 for vehicles and overtime support.
Critics say the reinstated 'task force' model, reintroduced in 2025 after being dismantled in 2012 following racial profiling allegations, risks eroding immigrant communities' trust and reducing crime reporting and access to services.
Analysis
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Sources (3)
FAQ
Section 287(g), created in 1996, is a provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act that authorizes local police forces to collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).[3] Under this program, local law enforcement agencies can enter into memoranda of understanding with ICE, allowing their officers to be trained to assist in immigration enforcement activities.[3] As of February 13, 2026, ICE had signed 1,415 such agreements covering 40 states.[3]
The surge in 287(g) agreements appears linked to the new administration and increased federal funding incentives. FWD.us estimates that participating state and local agencies could receive between $1.4 billion and $2 billion in 2026 through federal funding, with ICE offering up to $7,500 per trained officer and up to $100,000 for vehicles and overtime support.[3] In the first few weeks of 2026 alone, nearly 150 new local agencies joined the program.[3]
Former officials from the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties warned that the expansion of 287(g), combined with reduced internal oversight mechanisms, could become 'a threat to civil rights across the country.'[3] They noted that a Congress-ordered report identifying possible civil rights violations in some participating jurisdictions had not been released, and an advisory board that reviewed new applications was dissolved at the beginning of Trump's second term.[3] Critics also point to concerns about racial profiling and erosion of trust between immigrant communities and local police.[1]
At least 342 Florida law enforcement agencies have 287(g) agreements, the most of any state.[4] Texas also has a significant number of participating counties, though the exact figure is not specified in the available sources.[4]
Critics express concern that the reinstatement of the 'task force' model, which was dismantled in 2012 following racial profiling allegations, risks eroding immigrant communities' trust in local law enforcement and could reduce crime reporting and access to services.[1][3] The dramatic increase in police-ICE partnerships may create a chilling effect where immigrants become reluctant to interact with local law enforcement or seek help.[3]
History
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