287(g) Programs

ICE’s 287(g) Program allows state and local law enforcement agencies to act as immigration enforcement agents. Understanding these programs is crucial because they mean local police may be doing ICE’s work.

What is 287(g)?

Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act authorizes ICE to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies. Officers under these agreements receive training and can perform certain immigration enforcement functions.

The Three Models

1. Jail Enforcement Model (JEM)

What it does:

Targets people already in custody
Local law enforcement questions people arrested under local/state charges about immigration status
Officers may hold non-citizens up to 48 hours under ICE request

Where it happens:

Inside jails and detention facilities
After someone is arrested on other charges

Risk level for community:

If arrested on any charge (including minor ones), immigration status may be checked

2. Warrant Service Officer (WSO)

What it does:

ICE trains local officers to serve administrative warrants
Officers serve warrants within their agency’s jail

Where it happens:

Inside jails and detention facilities

Risk level for community:

Similar to JEM - affects people already in custody

3. Task Force Model (TFM)

What it does:

Local officers enforce immigration during routine duties
Includes traffic stops, patrols, any police encounter
Officers have limited immigration authority under ICE oversight

Where it happens:

On the street
Traffic stops
Any encounter with local police

Risk level for community:

Any interaction with police could become an immigration encounter
Racial profiling concerns are significant
Community members may be detained during routine stops

Current Scale (as of October 2025)

ICE has signed over 1,000 Memorandums of Agreement (MOA) covering 40 states:

Model	Agencies	States
JEM	132	28
WSO	381	35
TFM	522	35

Check Your Jurisdiction

Critical: Know whether your local law enforcement has a 287(g) agreement.

Official ICE list: https://www.ice.gov/identify-and-arrest/287g

Questions to Research:

Does your county sheriff have a 287(g) agreement?
What model(s) do they use?
Does your city police department participate?
Are there multiple agreements in your area?

Impact on Rapid Response

In a 287(g) jurisdiction:

Local Police May Be ICE

Officers in standard police uniforms could be performing immigration functions
Traffic stops could turn into immigration detention
Jail booking could trigger immigration holds

Identification Challenges

Can’t assume uniformed local police aren’t doing immigration work
Must pay attention to what happens during and after police encounters
Watch for people being held longer than typical

Know Your Rights Implications

Know Your Rights applies to local police too
Right to remain silent is even more critical
Don’t answer questions about citizenship/birthplace during routine stops

What 287(g) Does NOT Cover

Even with 287(g), local officers generally cannot:

Conduct raids solely for immigration purposes (must be part of regular duties)
Issue immigration warrants (only serve them)
Make final deportation decisions
Hold someone indefinitely without ICE involvement

Sanctuary vs. 287(g)

These are opposites:

Sanctuary Policies	287(g) Jurisdictions
Local police don’t assist ICE	Local police actively assist ICE
Won’t honor ICE detainers without warrants	Will honor ICE detainers
Won’t ask about immigration status	May ask about status
Focus on community trust	Focus on enforcement

Organizing in 287(g) Jurisdictions

If your area has 287(g):

Expand Know Your Rights training to cover local police encounters
Document all police encounters that seem to involve immigration questions
Track who is being held and for how long
Advocate for policy change at the local level
Build relationships with local officials who may oppose these programs

Resources

ACLU on 287(g)
Immigration Legal Resource Center
Check with local immigrant rights organizations for jurisdiction-specific information