Governor Mike Braun recently revealed a significant change to Indiana’s approach on immigration enforcement. Several state law enforcement agencies will now work directly with federal immigration officials under the 287(g) enforcement program. This partnership gives certain state and local agencies federal powers to help identify, arrest, and deport people living in Indiana without legal status.
Indiana’s move puts it among a growing number of states deepening local cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Video summary generated with artificial intelligence.
What Is the 287(g) Enforcement Program?
The 287(g) enforcement program comes from a federal law that allows local and state police to help enforce parts of federal immigration law. Through special training and signed agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), officers can act with some of the same authority as federal agents. In short, 287(g) agreements can turn the state’s law enforcement into partners with ICE in the effort to find, detain, and hand over undocumented immigrants.
One of the key parts is the task force model, which lets officers do much more than just check immigration status during jail bookings. They can make arrests, issue official detainers to keep suspects in custody, and work as joint task forces alongside ICE agents. This goes well beyond traditional state policing.
Indiana has now joined 23 other states that have at least one form of a 287(g) agreement. According to Governor Braun’s office, the state is rolling out one of the nation’s most expansive programs. The following agencies are taking part:
- Indiana State Police
- Indiana Department of Correction
- Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS)
What makes Indiana’s program stand out is its statewide scope and the broad powers granted to these agencies. Previously, these formal partnerships with ICE have been limited to a handful of sheriff’s departments or correctional facilities in other states.