Federal authorities have unleashed the largest local-federal crackdown on criminal illegal immigration in U.S. history, empowering over 900 police departments and shifting millions in taxpayer dollars to prioritize deportations and public safety.
Story Snapshot
- The Trump administration’s DHS has expanded 287(g) agreements to over 900 local police agencies, a 609% increase since January.
- Federal funding now covers local police salaries and provides performance bonuses for assisting ICE arrests and deportations.
- 8,501 local officers have been trained for immigration enforcement, with thousands more undergoing training.
- The initiative faces support from law enforcement but criticism from civil rights groups concerned about profiling and community trust.
Record Local-Federal Partnerships Target Criminal Illegal Aliens
Since January 2025, the Department of Homeland Security has expanded its 287(g) program to an unprecedented scale, with 958 local law enforcement agencies now formally deputized to assist ICE in arresting and detaining undocumented immigrants with criminal records. This represents a more than sixfold increase in local-federal partnerships since President Trump returned to office and signals a renewed federal commitment to removing criminal aliens from American communities. The administration touts the initiative as a decisive response to years of lax border enforcement and rising concerns over violent crime and national security threats.
Key to the program’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind federal funding mechanism that fully reimburses local police departments for the salaries of officers assigned to immigration enforcement. Local agencies also receive performance-based bonuses tied to the number and success of joint ICE operations. These incentives have spurred participation, particularly in states like Indiana and Nebraska, where new agreements also expand local detention capacity. According to DHS, 8,501 officers have completed specialized ICE training, with over 2,000 more scheduled for certification by the end of the year.
Federal Control and Centralized Enforcement: A New Era
The Trump administration has centralized immigration enforcement as a top federal law enforcement priority, temporarily freezing most non-ICE federal training programs to focus resources on ICE and its local partners. Recent executive orders have further extended federal authority, including direct federal control over Washington, D.C.’s police department for immigration enforcement purposes. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Bondi have been instrumental in rolling out these changes, arguing that close federal-local cooperation is vital to meet ambitious deportation targets and restore the rule of law after years of perceived neglect.
While the administration and law enforcement supporters frame the expansion as a vital step to protect American families and uphold the Constitution, critics—including some local officials and immigrant advocacy groups—warn that aggressive federal intervention risks undermining community trust, increasing the potential for racial profiling, and exposing municipalities to costly legal battles over civil rights and local autonomy. These concerns echo longstanding debates over the 287(g) program, which has been both praised as a force multiplier for ICE and criticized for its social and legal impacts.
Short- and Long-Term Impacts: Law Enforcement, Communities, and Policy
In the immediate term, the surge in 287(g) agreements has already led to a marked increase in ICE-led arrests and deportations of undocumented immigrants with criminal records. Local police departments benefit from increased funding, resources, and training, but also face operational challenges and possible reputational risks amid heightened scrutiny. Some states and cities enthusiastically back the initiative, while others resist or opt out in protest over federal overreach and potential civil liberties violations.
BREAKING: Trump’s DHS Secures Deals with More than 900 Police Departments to Help Arrest Criminal Illegal Aliens
Details: https://t.co/c9jpsoLZpt pic.twitter.com/SWx5WSJTpq
— YJA🇺🇸🥎 (@Yzo57) September 4, 2025
Long-term, the shift toward centralized immigration enforcement may reshape federal-local law enforcement relationships for years to come. While the administration’s supporters see these reforms as a long-overdue restoration of order and constitutional governance, legal scholars warn of possible constitutional challenges related to federal commandeering of local resources and due process rights. Experts also caution that the program’s success will ultimately depend on its ability to balance public safety goals with the need for community trust and respect for civil rights.
Sources:
DHS salary reimbursement and program details (Axios)
State partnerships and legal orders (AILA)
Federal training priorities and ICE hiring surge (GovExec)
287(g) agreements data and analysis (Migration Policy Institute)
Law enforcement perspectives and program mechanics (Police1)
