Local Police Now Outnumber Federal ICE Agents in Deportation Work

More than 29,000 state and local officers are currently deputized by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to conduct immigration arrests, according to a report released Tuesday. That figure represents a doubling of the workforce involved in the federal 287(g) program over the past eight months. The number of local officers now exceeds the 11,600 deportation officers directly employed by ICE.

The surge in participation began after President Trump returned to office in January 2025. FWD.us analyzed public records and data from the Deportation Data Project to track the expansion. Felicity Rose, vice president of research and policy at FWD.us, stated that these local officers have become a primary tool for the administration's enforcement strategy. She noted that the approach favors routine highway stops over large urban raids.

The program operates under the Task Force Model, which grants local police and sheriffs the authority to make immigration arrests. In exchange for maintaining active participation in enforcement activities, local agencies receive federal funding. These funds are designated for purchasing new vehicles, equipment, and other resources. The Department of Homeland Security describes 287(g) as a key method for reducing crime and illegal immigration.

Florida and Texas accounted for approximately half of the 47,000 immigration arrests made through 287(g) between January 2025 and August 2026. Governors in both states have required local police departments to sign the agreements. The report also identified spikes in enforcement in states that were previously less active. Deputized officers in Wyoming made 77% of all immigration arrests in the state in April 2026. In New Hampshire, the program accounted for 60% of arrests in June 2026. Oklahoma saw close to 50% of its immigration arrests made by local or state police in June.

Oklahoma's Highway Patrol enrolled all of its troopers in the program. This grant of authority allows officers to stop drivers on state highways and potentially make immigration arrests. Gabriela Ramirez Perez, an immigration policy analyst with the Oklahoma Policy Institute, said this shift has altered daily habits for residents. She observed that many immigrants are avoiding highways to reduce the risk of being stopped.

Financial incentives appear to be driving the rapid growth in the program. The Justice Department offered $3 billion in funding to state and local agencies that join the initiative. This money is available for staffing and equipment in coming years. Florida has already provided hundreds of millions of dollars in additional funds to its law enforcement agencies for their participation. Rose said the promise of financial support is likely to lead to further expansion of these partnerships.