Records made public by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reveal the number of signed 287(g) agreements increased by more than 1,000 percent, with more than 1,500 new agreements for local authorities to perform federal immigration enforcement signed since President Donald Trump began his second term in the White House.
Before Trump returned to the White House, there were reportedly only 135 law enforcement agencies that had signed 287(g) agreements with ICE nationwide. Data maintained by ICE shows the number has since swelled to 1,643, generating a 1,117 percent increase.
Among these signed agreements are 71 with Tennessee law enforcement agencies. Of these, more than 60 were signed after January 2025, indicating that, despite Tennessee being a landlocked state in the nation’s interior, it is responsible for about 4 percent of the new 287(g) agreements under the Trump administration.
There are three different types of 287(g) agreements, and in Tennessee, the most common is the Warrant Service Officer model, which authorizes local officials to serve federal immigration warrants and assist with arrests. A total of 43 law enforcement agencies in the Volunteer State have signed agreements for this model.
Eighteen agreements have been signed for the Task Force Model, which includes federal training for local police and empowers them to detain and question individuals for immigration violations during routine policing.
An additional 10 agreements have been signed for the Jail Enforcement Model, which allows local authorities to screen inmates for their immigration status, then issue detainers for illegal aliens, and begin deportation proceedings.
Some Tennessee law enforcement agencies have signed multiple 287(g) agreements, such as the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, which has agreements for all three models. Sheriffs’ offices in Bradley, Franklin, Madison, Putnam, Sevier, and Sullivan counties have each signed two 287(g) agreements.
Tennessee’s total number of agreements to work with ICE has surged by 788 percent under the Trump administration.
Last year, state lawmakers in the Tennessee General Assembly passed legislation to authorize grants for sheriffs’ offices that sign agreements with ICE. A bill under consideration this year would require local law enforcement with 287(g) agreements to comply with any detainer requested by ICE.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced last month that 3 million aliens have been deported, including 2.2 million by self-deportation, since Trump reentered the White House.
– – –
Tom Pappert is a 2025 recipient of the Dao Prize and the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star. He also reports for the Star News Network. Follow Tom on X. Email tips to [email protected].
Thanks alot to all the LEO’s that signed on the the 287(g) agreements . Now all the illegals will move out of those jurisdictions and into the sanctuary county of Davidson.
Need to make the entire country free of illegals.