What is 287(g)
The 287(g) program, enables U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to delegate to state and local agencies, usually law enforcement, the authority to act as independent federal immigration officers in certain circumstances, with limited oversight by ICE. This is one of the ways that these agencies voluntarily agree to work with ICE.
This model allows specifically designated officer of state and local law enforcement to identify immigrants held in prisons and local jails, interrogate them about their immigration status, place them into removal proceedings, detain them beyond their release date, transport them to immigration detention, and other things. This can mean that people who have not been proven guilty of any crime are held past their release and likely face deportation.
This model effectively means your neighborhood police officer or state trooper, must now also be an ICE agent instead of focusing on public safety and enforcing state and local laws. Officers with little experience (only 2 years on the force) and the equivalent of just one week of training are expected to apply immigration laws in their everyday interactions.
Early versions of this model were so rife with issues, including serious civil rights abuses, President Obama ended it and was not used during the Trump administration’s first term, only coming back to use now.
This model allows state and local law enforcement to serve ICE administrative warrants in their agency’s jail. This means that when a person held in a local jail is targeted by ICE, local police can detain them after their release, and request they be held longer, to put them in removal proceedings.
Where are 287(g) agreements in place in Virginia?
Explore the map below to see what counties and government agencies currently have agreements or have pending agreements.
map last updated 7/30/25 – Click the icon on the top left to see key and other information
287(g) Agreements are bad for everyone
287 (g) agreements increase fear in our communities while redirecting limited taxpayer dollars away from their intended purpose and exposing localities to significant liability. While 287(g) agreements are not the only way local law enforcement can collaborate with ICE, they formalize this relationship and give designated but minimally trained officers the ability to act without significant oversight.
Fear
When people in Virginia fear any interaction with law enforcement due to their immigration status, it harms both those families and the broader community. It can mean families don’t seek out needed services, don’t report crimes witnessed or crimes they are victims of to police, and limit their participation in their communities. It makes us all less safe and less productive.
Cost
287(g) agreements are not free; they steal taxpayer-funded resources that are intended to protect communities to instead terrorize them. History has shown in localities across the country that the cost of 287(g) agreements can lead to significant financial shortfalls. Not only that, immigrant communities are proven to be an economic positive for localities with their contribution in both spending and tax revenue.
Training
Officers who participate in 287(g) agreements receive shockingly little training in how to enforce immigration laws. ICE states on its promotional flyer for one of the 287(g) models that officers “…complete a 40 hour online course covering, among other things, scope of authority, immigration law, civil rights law, cross-cultural issues, liability issues, complaint procedures, and obligations under federal law.” One week of online training could only scratch the surface of one of the most complex areas of law.
Liability
The lack of training on our complex immigration system and vital civil rights laws leaves 287(g) participating localities in a very risky place. In most agreements, the federal government offers no guarantee of support should an officer be caught violating the law in attempting to detain a community member for ICE. This leaves local governments at risk of lawsuits, costing taxpayers even more.
We want to hear from you
We want to hear from you
Did you, or someone you know, experience an immigration- related incident with your local or state police? We are collecting stories and information to better understand how 287(g) agreements are working in Virginia and push back against local collaboration with ICE.
Your story
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