The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Feb. 18 a tenfold increase in partnerships between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local, state, and tribal agencies.
At the end of the Biden administration, 135 such partnerships existed, but that number has soared to more than 1,400 across 40 states under President Donald Trump.
Under Section 287(g) agreements, part of the Immigration and Nationality Act, ICE can partner with local, state, and tribal agencies to identify and remove illegal immigrants.
“Under the leadership of Trump and [DHS Secretary Kristi Noem], [ICE] has SUPERCHARGED cooperation with state and local law enforcement to assist federal immigration officers in our efforts to make America safe again,” DHS said in a post on X.
Partner agencies are eligible to receive money for new vehicles and equipment. Additional financial incentives include salary reimbursements for overtime worked in coordination with ICE.
State and local police cannot arrest individuals independently for immigration law violations—ICE supervision is required when executing arrests. However, tribal law enforcement is allowed to independently make arrests on reservations.
“These 287(g) agreement partnerships help us remove criminal illegal aliens including murderers, pedophiles, rapists, gang members, and terrorists from our communities,” DHS said.
The agency touted overwhelming success in states with large numbers of partnerships with ICE.
In Florida, 40,000 arrests have been made under the 287(g) agreements, according to DHS, which noted that seven out of the 10 safest cities in the United States cooperate with ICE.
On Trump’s first day in office of his second term, he signed an executive order instructing ICE to increase partnerships with states. Several Republican-led states, including Texas, Florida, and Virginia, ordered their agencies to sign on to the agreements.
Former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s directive did not last long. Newly elected Gov. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, signed directives this month to end Youngkin’s mandate and ban new partnerships.
Several Democrat-led states are making similar moves. In Delaware, a state House bill enacted in 2025 would also ban the agreements if passed. Nine total states have banned such partnerships, with potentially more coming.
“Sanctuary politicians are outlawing cooperation with ICE, instead choosing to RELEASE criminal illegal aliens from their jails back to the streets to VICTIMIZE more Americans,” DHS said in its X post.
The bans come amid pressure on ICE after two deadly shootings, of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis last month. Both were U.S. citizens protesting immigration enforcement operations. Good appeared to ram a federal officer with her car and Pretti approached a group of agents while possessing a firearm and two magazines.
