Authorities can now stop immigrants in the streets after new agreements with ICE

New Agreements with ICE

Immigrant Detentions

Pacts to Enforce New Policy

The U.S. government has reactivated a program allowing local authorities to detain and question immigrants on the streets.

Sparking concerns among civil rights advocates.

The «task force» model of the 287(g) program, which was suspended in 2012 due to allegations of discrimination and racial profiling, has been relaunched through agreements in at least five states.

Agencies in Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas have signed pacts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to enforce this new immigration policy.

ICE’s New Immigration Policy

New Agreements with ICE for Immigrant Detentions – Photo: Shutterstock

The program grants local officers, trained by ICE, the authority to arrest individuals for suspected immigration violations.

ICE considers this strategy a «force multiplier», expanding detention capabilities without requiring direct intervention from federal agents.

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These agreements permit officers to interrogate anyone suspected of being undocumented, even without a prior criminal investigation.

During its enforcement in the 2000s, the immigration detention program fostered distrust in Latino communities due to its connection to racial profiling.

Investigations revealed that the policy led to discriminatory practices and high legal costs for local governments.

In Arizona, Maricopa County faced lawsuits totaling $43 million due to racial profiling practices.

A 2013 court ruling estimated that litigation costs linked to the program could exceed $314 million by this year.

Civil rights groups warn that the policy could encourage arbitrary arrests and instill fear of mass deportations among immigrants.

Organizations such as the Florida Immigrant Coalition have voiced concerns about its impact on community safety.

Thomas Kennedy, a consultant for the organization, stated that ICE’s immigration policy may deter immigrants from reporting crimes out of fear of deportation.

Detaining individuals for minor infractions, such as traffic violations, could be used as a pretext to question immigration status.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis defended the program, arguing that it will strengthen cooperation between local and federal agencies.

In Kansas, the State Bureau of Investigation signed an agreement on February 17 to join the plan.

In Oklahoma, Governor Kevin Stitt announced on February 21 that three state agencies, including Public Safety, would participate.

Texas also joined through agreements between the state attorney general and sheriffs in Goliad and Smith counties.

Douglas County, Nevada, recently integrated into the initiative, increasing the number of jurisdictions enforcing the immigration detention program.

Mass Deportations Expected

Photo: Shutterstock

Former ICE acting director Tom Homan, the program’s key advocate, stated that the measure will enable mass deportations.

Homan emphasized that the administration aims to cut training costs, reducing officer preparation from four weeks to just one.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has pledged to support local agencies in litigation cases related to the program.

The 287(g) relaunch is part of a broader Trump administration strategy to tighten immigration policies.

Critics warn of potential abuses, racial discrimination, and damaged trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement.

Additionally, a Migration Policy Institute study found that 287(g) agreements result in fewer arrests compared to fingerprint screening methods.

In Prince William County, Virginia, the initial implementation in 2007 sparked immigrant fears, leading to modifications of the immigration detention program.

Local authorities later limited immigration status checks to already-arrested individuals, seeking to reduce community tensions.

Supporters of the immigration detention program argue that it serves as an effective tool to combat crime.

And it enhances community security, according to Infobae.

However, critics highlight the high litigation costs and potential loss of trust between immigrants and law enforcement.

As more jurisdictions consider joining the program, the debate over its social and legal impact continues to grow.

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