For years, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office in suburban Indianapolis has sought to collaborate with federal immigration authorities to identify and detain immigrants unlawfully in the U.S. As the Biden administration did not respond, the Trump administration is set to enable Hamilton County deputies to become the first in Indiana to enforce federal immigration duties.
Chief Deputy John Lowes confirmed their intention to collaborate with ICE, emphasizing community safety. Under Trump’s leadership, U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement is set to revive and expand the 287(g) program, training local law enforcement to question and detain immigrants in custody for potential deportation.
The program, which applies primarily to individuals already incarcerated, could be expanded under the current administration to allow local task forces to make arrests in the community—a model that faced scrutiny during the Obama administration due to racial profiling concerns.
Recently, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced a similar agreement permitting local law enforcement to detain immigrants suspected of illegal residency, underscoring efforts to enforce a significant deportation initiative.
Advocates for immigrant rights express alarm over these local law enforcement agreements, citing risks of racial profiling and negative impacts on community cooperation with police. Previous iterations of the 287(g) program in the early 2000s saw challenges, including a 2011 civil rights investigation that found racial profiling practices in Maricopa County, leading to the termination of such agreements.
ICE currently holds 135 agreements with various law enforcement agencies across 21 states, with substantial participation in Florida, Texas, and North Carolina. No new agreements occurred during Biden’s presidency.
The Trump administration intends to maximize these agreements, with officials advocating for reduced training requirements and enhanced collaboration with local agencies. The National Sheriffs’ Association encourages participation, acknowledging widespread local interest despite individual departmental constraints.
Florida pioneered the 287(g) agreement model in 2002, now requiring all local agencies to comply or explain their non-participation. Following a tragic incident involving an undocumented individual in Georgia, state lawmakers have pursued increasing participation in federal immigration initiatives.
State legislation is currently advancing across multiple states, pushing for mandatory cooperation with ICE. Proponents argue that local law enforcement’s involvement is crucial for public safety and immigration enforcement.
Hamilton County officials maintain that their efforts will primarily target individuals already in custody for crimes, with the hope that the program will reduce recidivism and enhance community safety.
