U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
GRAPEVINE, Texas – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) formally announced the signing of 18 new 287(g) agreements throughout the state of Texas at an event in Grapevine today attended by Acting ICE Director Tom Homan and sheriffs from each of the 18 counties.
The 287(g) program allows state or local law enforcement entities to request to enter into a partnership with ICE for delegated immigration enforcement.
With the addition of these 18 agreements, ICE now has 60 active 287(g) agreements, which is nearly double the number of active programs in 2016. This also marks the largest expansion of the program in recent years; only six new agreements were added between 2012 and 2016. ICE plans to continue this higher rate of expansion in the coming year, as resources allow.
“I’m proud to stand alongside these sheriffs who are taking decisive action to join ICE in an important effort to enhance the safety of their communities,” said Acting ICE Director Homan.
By partnering with ICE’s 287(g) program, each of these counties will be able to identify criminal aliens in their jails and turn them over to ICE, once their criminal process is complete. It is common sense partnerships like these that help law enforcement achieve our mutual goals, and I’m encouraged by the increased interest from law enforcement professionals who seek to join this program and protect public safety,” he said.
The following counties were present to announce their new 287(g) partnerships:
- Aransas County
- Calhoun County
- Chambers County
- DeWitt County
- Galveston County
- Goliad County
- Jackson County
- Lavaca County
- Lubbock County
- Matagorda County
- Montgomery County
- Refugio County
- Smith County
- Tarrant County
- Victoria County
- Walker County
- Waller County
- Wharton County
“The 287(g) program is about identifying criminality, not nationality,” said Sheriff A.J. Louderback of Jackson County, Texas. “The common bond in professional law enforcement is a public safety partnership and those who stand here today have chosen the best possible path to protecting their communities.”
All current 287(g) agreements operate under a jail enforcement model, which operates solely within the confines of a jail. Under this model an alien must first be arrested by local law enforcement on other criminal charges and brought to the facility before any 287(g) screening activity takes place.
The goal of this program is to enhance public safety by identifying aliens, lodging immigration detainers, and initiating removal proceedings by issuing charging documents on potentially deportable criminal aliens booked into the jail facility.