April 28, 2008

A Law Enforcement Partnership

ICE ACCESS (Agreements of Cooperation in Communities to Enhance Safety and Security) provides local law enforcement agencies an opportunity to team with ICE to combat specific challenges in their communities.
The 287(g) program is only one component under the ICE ACCESS umbrella of services and programs offered for assistance to local law enforcement officers.
ICE developed the ACCESS program in response to the widespread interest from local law enforcement agencies who have requested ICE assistance through the 287(g) program, which trains local officers to enforce immigration law as authorized through section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Terrorism and criminal activity are most effectively combated through a multi-agency/multi-authority approach that encompasses federal, state and local resources, skills and expertise.  State and local law enforcement play a critical role in protecting our homeland because they are often the first responders on the scene when there is an incident or attack against the United States.  During the course of daily duties, they will often encounter foreign-born criminals and immigration violators who pose a threat to national security or public safety.

Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act

The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRAIRA), effective September 30, 1996, added Section 287(g), performance of immigration officer functions by state officers and employees, to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).  This authorizes the secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies, permitting designated officers to perform immigration law enforcement functions, pursuant to a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), provided that the local law enforcement officers receive appropriate training and function under the supervision of sworn U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
The cross-designation between ICE and state and local patrol officers, detectives, investigators and correctional officers working in conjunction with ICE allows these local and state officers:  necessary resources and latitude to pursue investigations relating to violent crimes, human smuggling, gang/organized crime activity, sexual-related offenses, narcotics smuggling and money laundering; and increased resources and support in more remote geographical locations.

Memorandum of Agreement

The MOA defines the scope and limitations of the authority to be designated.  It also establishes the supervisory structure for the officers working under the cross-designation and prescribes the agreed upon complaint process governing officer conduct during the life of the MOA.  Under the statute, ICE will supervise all cross-designated officers when they exercise their immigration authorities.  The agreement must be signed by the ICE Assistant Secretary, and the governor, a senior political entity, or the head of the local agency before trained local officers are authorized to enforce immigration law.

Officer Selection Requirement

• U.S. citizen
• Current background investigation completed
• Minimum two years experience in current position
• No disciplinary actions pending

Training Requirements

ICE offers two training programs including a five-week program for field level law enforcement officers and a four-week program for correctional personnel.  The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Academy sets standards and testing. Certified instructors conduct the training.
287 (g) Facts

• The program is credited for identifying more than 50,000 (since FY 2006) individuals, mostly in jails, who are suspected of being in the country illegally.
• There are currently 47 active 287(g) MOA’s
• Nearly 700 officers have been trained and certified thru the 287(g) program
• There are more than 90 pending requests (as of 4-28-08)

State	Agency	Type	Official Approval
AL	Alabama State Police	TFO	9/10/2003
AR	Benton County Sheriff's Department	JEO/TFO	9/26/2007
AR	City of Springdale Police Department	TFO	9/26/2007
AR	Rogers Police Department	TFO	9/25/2007
AR	Washington County Sheriff's Office	JEO/TFO	9/26/2007
AZ	AZ Department of Public Safety	TFO	4/15/2007
AZ	City of Phoenix Police Department	TFO	3/10/2008
AZ	Department of Corrections	JEO	9/16/2005
AZ	Maricopa County Sheriff's Office	JEO/TFO	2/7/2007
AZ	Pima County Sheriff's Department	JEO/TFO	3/10/2008
AZ	Pinal County Sheriff's Office	JEO/TFO	3/10/2008
AZ	Yavapai County Sheriffs Office	JEO/TFO	3/10/2008
CA	Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department	JEO	2/1/2005
CA	Orange County Sheriff's Office	JEO	11/2/2006
CA	Riverside County Sheriff's Office	JEO	4/28/2006
CA	San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office	JEO	10/19/2005
CO	CO Dept. of Public Safety	TFO	3/29/2007
CO	El Paso County Sheriff's Office	JEO	5/17/2007
FL	Collier County Sheriff's Office	JEO/TFO	8/6/2007
FL	Florida Department of Law Enforcement	TFO	7/2/2002
GA	Cobb County Sheriff's Office	JEO	2/13/2007
GA	Georgia Dept. of Public Safety	TFO	7/27/2007
GA	Hall County Sheriff's Office	JEO/TFO	2/29/2008
GA	Whitfield County Sheriff's Office	JEO	2/4/2008
MA	Barnstable County Sheriff's Office	JEO	8/25/2007
MA	Department of Corrections	JEO	3/26/2007
MA	Framingham Police Department	TFO	8/14/2007
MD	Frederick County Sheriff's Office	JEO/TFO	2/6/2008
NC	Alamance County Sheriff's Office	JEO	1/10/2007
NC	Cabarrus Co.  Sheriff's Office	JEO	8/2/2007
NC	Durham Police Department	TFO	2/1/2008
NC	Gaston County Sheriff's Office	JEO	2/22/2007
NC	Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office	JEO	2/27/2006
NH	Hudson City Police Department	TFO	5/5/2007
NM	New Mexico Corrections Department	JEO	9/17/2007
OH	Butler County Sheriff’s Office	JEO/TFO	2/5/2008
OK	Tulsa County Sheriff's Office	JEO/TFO	8/6/2007
SC	York County Sheriff's Office	JEO	10/16/2007
TN	Davidson County Sheriff's Office	JEO	2/21/2007
VA	City of Manassas	TFO	3/5/2008
VA	Herndon Police	TFO	3/21/2007
VA	Manassas Park PD	TFO	3/10/2008
VA	Prince William County PD	TFO	2/26/2008
VA	Prince William County SO	TFO	2/26/2008
VA	Prince William-Manassas Adult Detention Center	JEO	7/9/2007
VA	Rockingham Co. Sheriff’s Office	JEO/TFO	4/25/2007
VA	Shenandoah Co. Sheriff’s Office	TFO	5/10/2007

JEO = Jail Enforcement Officers
TFO = Task Force Officers

Officer Selection Requirements

U.S. citizen;
Current background investigation completed;
Minimum two years experience as a law enforcement officer; and
No disciplinary actions pending.

Training Requirements

ICE offers two training programs including a five-week program for field level law enforcement officers and a four-week program for correctional personnel. The ICE Academy sets standards and testing. Certified instructors conduct the training.

Contact Information

For more information on Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, please visit the FAQ page or you may request an information packet via the Section 287g form.

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