In a new statement released by the Trump administration, starting October 1, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will be fully funding, along with encouraging the participation of local or state police officers to join the 287 immigration enforcement programs.
The 287 Program is an initiative supported by Trump’s “one big beautiful bill” that aims to encourage police involvement in the “catching” and removal of immigrants.
The 287 plan is a federally supported program that gives officers the authority to identify, arrest, and process individuals suspected of being in the country unlawfully. All the while, police officers are reimbursed for participating, which includes officer compensation and overtime/performance-based bonuses.
The 287 Program established under section 287 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) allows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to delegate certain immigration enforcement functions to state and local law enforcement agencies.
In this program, officers receive training that is generally mediocre at best, along with more power or authority. This program was typically a bigger effort to increase deportation numbers, and when this program was proposed, it had 135 votes in agreement with it. Now, it has 958 votes of agreement since Trump took office.
This program exemplifies a positive change nationally and state-wise, finally showing a sense of compromise.
State and local governments are collectively organizing with federal authorities to start training to enforce policies nationally, but many are concerned with the potential officers who are power hungry; a big question being asked is will there be an increase in racial profiling or discrimination based on looks or accents?
Now it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t include a personal statement. This program is revolting to me; we should not be giving officers at the local or state level the power to carry out the jobs of ICE.
If anything, this is a direct attack on people of color in this country, legal or not. It is almost impossible to tell legality based on characteristics one does or doesn’t have. I fear that’s been the root of racial favoritism for centuries.
Moreover, concerns are raised based on the question: will this infringe on civil rights, along with human rights, and does this give the upper hand to people who are deeply rooted in hate for people of color? It raises serious ethical and legal concerns.
