ICE Deputized Local Police Force Doubles to 29,000 in Eight Months

Key points

• The 287(g) program, which allows local police to make immigration arrests, has seen its officer count rise from 11,600 to over 29,000 in eight months.
• Florida and Texas account for approximately half of the 47,000 immigration arrests made through the program between January 2025 and August 2026.
• The Task Force Model, the most aggressive form of the partnership, provides local agencies with funding for equipment and vehicles in exchange for active enforcement participation.
• States like Wyoming, New Hampshire, and Oklahoma have seen dramatic spikes in arrests by deputized officers, with Wyoming seeing 77% of its state arrests made by these officers in April 2026.
• The U.S. Department of Justice offered $3 billion in funding to state and local agencies to join the program, which FWD.us identifies as a primary driver for the increase in partnerships.

Background

This expansion follows a period of heightened federal immigration enforcement, including incidents such as the September 2026 injury of a U.S. citizen in Evanston, Illinois, by ICE agents. Additionally, earlier coverage highlighted how the 287(g) program has fractured small communities like Ingram, Texas, where local participation led to the detention of a significant portion of the town's population. The current surge represents a broader shift in enforcement tactics, moving away from the high-visibility urban operations seen in cities like Chicago and Minneapolis toward more routine, decentralized policing.

Why it matters

The rapid expansion of the 287(g) program indicates a fundamental shift in how immigration enforcement is conducted in the United States. By leveraging local police forces and financial incentives, the federal government is decentralizing its operations, potentially increasing the reach of enforcement into communities that were previously less affected. This strategy may lead to widespread fear among immigrant populations, as evidenced by changes in daily routines in states like Oklahoma, and raises questions about the role of local law enforcement in federal immigration policy.

What to watch

FWD.us predicts that the promise of federal funding will continue to drive more partnerships under the 287(g) program. As the Justice Department's $3 billion funding package is distributed, expect to see further increases in the number of deputized officers and potentially more immigration arrests in states that have not traditionally been hotspots for enforcement. The long-term impact on community trust and local law enforcement resources will likely become a focal point of political debate.