Tennessee State Representative Lee Reeves (R-Franklin) said on Wednesday that sheriffs “need to step up” as just eight counties in the Volunteer State have entered into 287(g) agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which allows local law enforcement to perform immigration enforcement actions within their jurisdiction that are typically reserved for federal officials.
Reeves compared county-level participation in the 287(g) program by sheriffs in Florida and Tennessee in a post to the social media platform X, revealing that every sheriff in Florida now assists federal authorities with immigration enforcement, boosted by training from ICE.
“We have great sheriffs in TN – but they need to hear from you,” said Reeves in a second post to X, urging Tennesseans to contact their sheriffs about the 287(g) program.
Florida sheriffs: 67 of 67 using @ICEgov 287(g).
Tennessee sheriffs: 8 of 95.
ICE 287(g) keeps criminal illegal aliens in jail from being released back into our communities.
ICE covers the training — 8 hours, online, for a Warrant Service Officer. TN sheriffs need to step up. pic.twitter.com/Gkp9kVw7dl— Lee Reeves (@LeeReevesTN) June 4, 2025
Reeves’ posts to X come months after the Tennessee General Assembly passed legislation authorizing new grants for county governments that enter into 287(g) programs with ICE during the special legislative session called in January.
The first law Governor Bill Lee signed into law during this legislative session, it created a new Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division at the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, where the chief executive will coordinate “participation in federal immigration programs,” including 287(g).
Subject to funding from the General Assembly, the law also approved state grants for county governments and law enforcement agencies that enter into 287(g) agreements with ICE, with the only requirement being that such governments or agencies “have a valid, executed agreement between the local government or law enforcement agency and the United States attorney general under the 287(g) program,” when requesting the grant.
His comments also come after U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) announced a federal probe into Mayor Freddie O’Connell and his response to a May immigration enforcement operation that saw nearly 200 arrests in Nashville. O’Connell indicated he will respond to the investigation.
The lack of participation in the 287(g) program also comes shortly after Tennessee bolstered its law prohibiting local officials from declaring cities or counties to be sanctuary cities, with lawmakers making it a Class E felony for elected leaders to pursue such designations.
Both Nashville and Shelby County were identified as sanctuary jurisdictions by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security late last month.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Where is Nashville Sheriff Darren Hall?
He used to cooperate with ICE during previous administration’s.
I think he now may have a Conflict of interest.
His wife works for the O’Connell Admin.
Maybe someone should ask him.
Should be. Law
Which of the 8 Counties have 287(g) agreements with their SOs? Need to identify each such County. Need to embarrass the rest. Thank you.
Where is Benton County?