Republican-led states are forming alliances with the Trump administration to enhance immigration enforcement through 287(g) agreements, directly challenging sanctuary cities across the nation.
At a Glance
- Florida, Kansas, and Oklahoma lead states entering 287(g) agreements with ICE to enforce federal immigration laws
- These agreements allow state and local police to identify, arrest, and serve warrants on foreign-born individuals with criminal charges
- President Trump signed an Executive Order in January authorizing new agreements after none were made during the Biden administration
- All 67 Florida counties have entered into these agreements, with Governor DeSantis expanding them to state agencies
- ICE currently has various agreements with agencies across 16 states, with more applications pending
States Stepping Up Immigration Enforcement
Several Republican-led states are aligning with the Trump administration to strengthen immigration enforcement through 287(g) agreements, creating a direct counter to “sanctuary” jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal authorities. These agreements, which had been a key component of Trump’s first term immigration strategy, authorize state and local law enforcement to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in identifying and detaining undocumented immigrants facing criminal charges.
Florida stands at the forefront of this movement, with all 67 counties participating in these cooperative agreements. Governor Ron DeSantis has further expanded the state’s commitment by establishing additional agreements with state agencies including the Florida Highway Patrol and Florida State Guard, creating a comprehensive approach to immigration enforcement throughout the state.
How 287(g) Agreements Work
The 287(g) program, named after the section of immigration law that authorizes it, comes in three distinct forms: jail enforcement, task force operations, and warrant service officer programs. These partnerships enable state and local authorities to act in coordination with federal immigration officials to identify, arrest, and serve warrants on foreign-born individuals who have been charged with crimes locally.
“With the head of steam that President Trump has, being swept into office with this as the centerpiece of his agenda, now is the final time, final opportunity to end the illegal immigration crisis in this country once and for all, we need to be willing partners with the federal administration,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said.
Currently, ICE maintains jail agreements with 60 agencies across 16 states, warrant agreements with 80 agencies in 12 states, and task force agreements with 15 agencies in 6 states. After President Trump signed an Executive Order in January reauthorizing these partnerships, new agreements for 2025 include agencies from Florida, Idaho, Nevada, Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Additional applications are pending from Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and other states.
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach has been vocal about his state’s involvement, announcing agreements that will provide ICE training to local officers. The focus, according to Kobach, is ensuring the deportation of dangerous criminals who might otherwise be released back into communities. This represents a significant shift from policies that limited cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
“All across Kansas, illegal aliens who are dangerous criminals or gang members are released back to the streets on a regular basis. That will end. This agreement will ensure that those criminals are deported,” Kobach said.
Similarly, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has emphasized how these agreements will strengthen law enforcement capabilities. By working directly with ICE, Stitt maintains that Oklahoma officers will have additional tools to remove dangerous criminals from communities. This stance represents a direct challenge to sanctuary jurisdictions that have limited cooperation with federal immigration authorities in recent years.
“Law enforcement can’t do their jobs with one hand tied behind their back. By working directly with ICE, our law enforcement officers now have additional tools to keep dangerous criminals off our streets and protect Oklahomans. Oklahoma is proud to lead the way in strengthening border security from the state’s side and enforcing the rule of law,” Stitt said.
Pushback Against Sanctuary Policies
The Trump administration has not limited its approach to encouraging cooperative agreements. It has also initiated legal action against jurisdictions that maintain sanctuary policies limiting cooperation with ICE. This two-pronged strategy aims to both incentivize cooperation while applying pressure to non-cooperative jurisdictions, reflecting the administration’s commitment to stricter immigration enforcement.
No new 287(g) agreements were established during the Biden administration, marking a clear policy difference between the two administrations. The renewed push for these agreements under Trump’s second term signals a return to more aggressive immigration enforcement strategies that characterized his first administration, when similar agreements proliferated across numerous states and localities.
