Delegation of Immigration Authority Section 287(g) Immigration and Nationality Act
ICE’s 287(g) Program
The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 added Section 287(g) to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) — authorizing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to delegate to state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform specified immigration officer functions under the agency’s direction and oversight.
The 287(g) Program enhances the safety and security of our nation’s communities by allowing ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) to partner with state and local law enforcement agencies to identify and remove criminal aliens who are amenable to removal from the U.S.
ICE recognizes the importance of its relationships with its law enforcement partners to carry out its critical mission.
The 287(g) program allows ICE — through the delegation of specified immigration officer duties — to enhance collaboration with state and local law enforcement partners to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of aliens who undermine the safety of our nation’s communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws.
287(g) Program Models
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations operates three 287(g) models:
- The Jail Enforcement Model is designed to identify and process removable aliens — with criminal or pending criminal charges — who are arrested by state or local law enforcement agencies.
- The Task Force Model serves as a force multiplier for law enforcement agencies to enforce limited immigration authority with ICE oversight during their routine police duties.
- The Warrant Service Officer program allows ICE to train, certify and authorize state and local law enforcement officers to serve and execute administrative warrants on aliens in their agency’s jail.
How Can Your Agency Participate in the ICE 287(g) Program?
On January 20, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued Executive Order (EO) 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. This EO requires ICE to authorize State and local law enforcement officials, as the Secretary of Homeland Security determines are qualified and appropriate, under section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to the maximum extent permitted by law. Several states, including but not limited to Georgia and Florida, have passed, or are considering, State legislation mandating law enforcement agencies (LEAs) seek out or enter into memorandums of agreement (MOA) with ICE pursuant to a partnership under the 287(g) Program.
Participation in the 287(g) Program is limited to LEA’s only. LEAs interested in participating in the 287(g) Program must sign an MOA with ICE. LEAs will nominate officers to participate in the 287(g) Program. Nominees must possess U.S. citizenship, complete and pass a background investigation, and have knowledge of and have enforced laws and regulations related to law enforcement activities at their jurisdictions. Nominees will receive training at the expense of ICE related to the immigration duties pertinent to the applicable MOA.
LEAs interested in becoming a law enforcement partner under the 287(g) Program must submit a signed Letter of Interest and signed MOA to ICE at ERO287g@ice.dhs.gov. These forms can be found below.
- WSO
- JEM
- TFM
If you have any questions about participating in the ICE 287(g) program, how to complete the necessary forms, what is required, or would like additional information, please do not hesitate to email ERO287g@ice.dhs.gov; your inquiry will be promptly answered within one business day.
FAQs
287(g) Participating Agencies
As of February 19, 2025, ICE has signed 287(g) JEM agreements with 60 law enforcement agencies in 16 states, 287(g) WSO agreements with 79 law enforcement agencies in 11 states, and 287(g) TFM agreements with 10 agencies in five states.
View 287(g) Participating Agencies
287(g) Pending Agencies
As of February 19, 2025, the following 41 law enforcement agencies have pending 287(g) program applications: