ICE Deals With Police Jump 950% Under Trump: What It Means for Immigrants
Something big changed in how immigration enforcement works in America. And it affects millions of immigrants who live here.
Local police in your town can now make immigration arrests. They're working directly with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). This wasn't happening much under Biden. But it's happening everywhere now.
As of January 26, 2026, ICE has agreements with 1,168 local police departments and sheriff's offices. That's almost 10 times more than the 135 agreements during Biden's time in office. It's even more than Trump's first term, when only 150 departments worked with ICE.
What Are These ICE Agreements With Police?
The program is called the "287(g) task force." That's the legal name. But here's what it actually means in simple terms.
Local police officers get special training from ICE. After training, they can act like ICE agents while doing their regular police work. They can stop you if they think you might be in the country without papers. They can arrest you for immigration reasons, not just for crimes.
The police officer who pulls you over for a broken taillight? They might also check your immigration status and call ICE. The deputy at a traffic checkpoint? Same thing.
This wasn't how it worked before. Regular police used to focus on local crimes. ICE handled immigration. Now those lines are blurred in 39 states.
Why Are So Many Police Departments Signing Up?
Money. Lots of it.
ICE is paying police departments to join the program. According to NBC News analysis, each department gets:
- $7,500 per officer for equipment
- $100,000 for new vehicles
- Up to 25% extra pay for overtime
In total, police departments could get between $1.4 billion and $2 billion this year. That's more federal money than police usually get for anything else.
For small towns with tight budgets, this looks like free money and free help. But it comes with a job: help ICE find and arrest immigrants without papers.
Which States Have the Most Police Working With ICE?
Florida leads with 342 police departments signed up. Texas has 296. Tennessee has 63. Pennsylvania has 58. Alabama has 52.
But the program spread to 39 states total. That means even if you live in a place that feels safe, your local police might be working with ICE now.
Some places said no. The Dallas Police Department rejected the deal. They said it would pull officers away from fighting real crime. Montgomery County in Maryland also refused. Their police chiefs said they won't enforce immigration law.
But other places didn't have a choice. In Louisiana, Governor Jeff Landry signed an order forcing state police to help ICE. He encouraged local departments to sign up too, even though New Orleans city leaders opposed it.
Why Did This Program Come Back?
This isn't new. The same program existed before.
President Obama shut it down in 2012. Why? Because local police in Arizona and North Carolina were accused of racial profiling (this means stopping people just because of how they look). Courts found the police were targeting Latino people unfairly.
Trump brought the program back in his first term. But not many departments joined. Only 150 by the time he left office in 2021.
Now in 2025, Trump's team relaunched it with much more money and pressure. The growth is huge. In just one year, agreements jumped 950%.
What Does This Mean for You and Your Community?
If you're an immigrant without papers, your daily life just got riskier. Simple interactions with police could lead to deportation (being sent back to your home country).
Driving to work. Dropping kids at school. Going to the grocery store. Any of these could end with a police stop that turns into an ICE arrest.
Research from the last time this program existed shows what happens:
- Kids stop going to school because families are scared
- People don't go to hospitals when sick
- Crime victims don't call police for help
- Whole neighborhoods live in fear
Felicity Rose, who studied the program for FWD.US policy organization, said families are already changing their behavior. "People are afraid to leave their houses," she told NBC News.
Even if you have papers, this affects you. If you look Latino or speak Spanish, police might stop you more often. That's what happened last time. Courts called it racial profiling and shut the program down.
What Should You Do Now?
Know your rights. You don't have to answer questions about where you were born or your immigration status. You can say "I want to remain silent" and "I want to talk to a lawyer."
Don't run. If police stop you, stay calm. Running makes things worse. Keep your hands where police can see them.
Don't sign anything. ICE might ask you to sign papers saying you agree to leave the country. Don't sign without talking to a lawyer first.
Carry important papers. If you have a work permit, green card, or any legal immigration papers, keep copies with you. Keep originals in a safe place at home.
Make a plan with your family. Talk about what happens if ICE arrests you. Who picks up the kids? Who knows where your important papers are? Write down a lawyer's phone number that everyone knows.
Check if your local police signed up. Call your city council or county sheriff and ask if they have a 287(g) agreement with ICE. You have a right to know.
Talk to a lawyer. Many immigrant advocacy groups offer free legal help. Look for "know your rights" workshops in your community. Some happen at churches, community centers, or online.
The situation is changing fast. Public opinion is shifting too. A new NBC News poll shows 60% of Americans now disapprove of Trump's immigration actions. This happened after ICE agents accidentally shot and killed two American citizens during raids last month.
More stories about local police making immigration arrests will probably come out soon. The program is still very new in most places. But the scale is huge. Over 1,000 police departments. Millions of dollars. And it's spreading fast.
Stay informed. Stay safe. And remember: you have rights, no matter what your immigration status is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can local police ask about my immigration status during a traffic stop?
Yes, if your local police department signed a 287(g) agreement with ICE. In those places, trained officers can ask about immigration status and even make immigration arrests. You have the right to remain silent. You don't have to answer questions about where you were born or your status.
How do I find out if my local police work with ICE?
Call your city hall, county sheriff's office, or police department and ask if they have a "287(g) agreement" with ICE. You can also check with local immigrant advocacy groups who track this information. It's public information that they must share with you.
What should I do if ICE or police come to my door?
You don't have to open the door unless they have a warrant signed by a judge (not an ICE warrant). Ask them to slip the warrant under the door so you can see it. If it's only an ICE administrative warrant, you don't have to let them in. Stay calm and say you're using your right to remain silent.
Does this program affect people with green cards or work permits?
The program mainly targets people without legal status. But racial profiling can happen. People who look Latino or speak Spanish might get stopped more often, even if they have papers. Always carry proof of your legal status with you if you have it.
Why did so many police departments suddenly join this program?
ICE is offering huge amounts of money to local police. Departments can get $7,500 per officer, $100,000 for vehicles, and overtime pay. Small towns with tight budgets see this as needed funding. The Trump administration also increased pressure on police to help with immigration enforcement.