Under 287(g), ICE trains local officers to understand and analyze federal records to check the immigration status of arrestees.Â
Since January 2017, when President Trump took office, several police departments have been bestowed with powers to help immigration agencies identify individuals who are in the country illegally.
According to information obtained under the Right to Information Act, about 29 departments are now part of a special program that grants police officers powers to perform some work of immigration agents, the Reuters reported. This program is called 287(g).
Under 287(g), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) trains local officers to understand and analyze federal records to check the immigration status of the arrestees. And, if they suspect anyone they can then inform the federal agents about the individual for deportation.
The program has enabled to double the size of the immigration agency within these 10 months, according to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Reuters added. The report said several more departments have applied to join the program.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), tens of thousands of illegal immigrants have been identified in the past by police forces that have participated in the program.
Apparently, the police departments that have agreed to join the program are those with less than 100,000 residents. Interesting, the areas with bigger populations, for instance, “sanctuary cities†are not cooperating much with the concerned agencies to check the immigration status of residents, the news agency added.
The 287(g) program was shrunk in its scope during Obama-era due to concerns over police departments targeting members of a particular community. Also, it was observed that the immigrant communities were losing trust in the police. “By the end of fiscal year 2016 only 32 agreements were left in place, down from a peak in 2010 when some 70 jurisdictions were participating,†the report said. “Today, 60 departments in 18 states participate.â€