DHS Offers Police Salary Funding for Immigration Enforcement

The Department of Homeland Security under President Trump announced a new initiative starting October 1 to fully reimburse state and local law enforcement agencies for salaries and benefits of officers participating in federal immigration enforcement programs, specifically under the expanded 287(g) partnerships. This program also includes covering up to 25% of officers' salaries for overtime and provides quarterly performance-based bonuses of up to $1,000 for meeting immigration-arrest targets. Since President Trump took office, these partnerships have surged from 135 to 958, reflecting a 609% increase, as part of an intensified effort to increase deportations nationwide. Critics, including immigrant advocates, argue such programs damage trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement, potentially leading to racial profiling and diverting police focus away from local public safety threats. The funding for this initiative is supported by a $75 billion Congressional spending package aimed at ramping up Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. DHS also provides training and tools to local police to enforce immigration laws while performing their routine duties, emphasizing aggressive federal-local cooperation in immigration enforcement.