Democracy Docket: “Across the country, local and state law enforcement agencies are cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest, detain and deport immigrants. An unpopular provision in a decades-old law lets ICE collaborate with state and local police by delegating to them the authority to enforce immigration rules. It’s now being used by the Trump administration to turn local cops into potential ICE agents with minimal training — even at a time when the recently passed budget bill provides ICE with 10,000 new agents. And while prior administrations had pulled back on the most dangerous and aggressive version of the collaboration model, the Department of Homeland Security under Trump has ramped up its use — especially in Republican-controlled Florida, a hotspot for Trump’s immigration crackdown. The result has been to turn ICE into the biggest police force in the country, governed almost entirely at the discretion of President Donald Trump and his allies. This federally-backed secret police is employing tactics that have terrorized communities, trampled on constitutional rights, and eroded local democracy. The 287(g) program, named for Section 287(g) of the 1996 Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), “allows ICE — through the delegation of specified immigration officer duties — to enhance collaboration with state and local law enforcement partners to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of aliens who undermine the safety of our nation’s communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws,” ICE declares on its website.  287(g) agreements became popular among local law enforcement during a wave of panic about undocumented immigrants in the mid 2000’s. Today, there are over 800 — more than ever before — 40% of which are in Florida. Under Governor Ron DeSantis (R) and Attorney General James Uthmeier (R), the Sunshine State has weaponized almost every law enforcement agency — even the university police at all 13 Florida state colleges — against immigrants. Among the initiatives that Florida has undertaken through its 287(g) pact is the “Alligator Alcatraz” that opened early in July, which the administration has said is a model for other states.   287(g) agreements have drawn criticism in both red and blue communities, and even from local law enforcement officials. Last month, Utah County, Utah, residents spoke for three hours to denounce the county’s agreement with the Feds, and the threat it poses to local sovereignty.  These agreements generate community distrust and divert resources to immigration enforcement that might otherwise go elsewhere. Most importantly, they feed into a racist and unaccountable deportation machine…”

See also Popular Information – Deplete the Police: How the federal immigration crackdown could cripple local law enforcement – “One of the central components of President Trump’s megabill, which became law on July 4, is a massive increase in funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The agency will receive an additional $76.5 billion over four years — nearly ten times its current budget. Billions are set aside to add 10,000 additional staff, a 50% increase in personnel. The additional personnel are supposed to fulfill Trump’s promise of a mass deportation campaign. White House Senior Adviser Stephen Miller said the Trump administration plans to achieve “a minimum of 3,000 arrests for ICE every day, and President Trump is going to keep pushing to get that number up higher each and every day.” The pace described by Miller would result in one million arrests per year. There is a long way to go to achieve Miller’s goal. In the first five months of Trump’s term, ICE arrested an average of 650 immigrants per day. In June, daily ICE arrests surged to 1,224 before declining to 990 last month. Notably, even at current levels, the vast majority of those in ICE detention have no criminal record. According to the latest data, 71.1% of those in ICE detention “have no criminal conviction.” Among those convicted of crimes, most “committed only minor offenses, including traffic violations.” Even with ICE’s virtually unlimited funds, filling 10,000 law enforcement jobs is difficult. Before ICE’s expansion, there was already a significant shortage of qualified law enforcement officers. Across the country, police departments report an average staffing shortage of about 10%. In other words, there are very few qualified people for these jobs who are looking for work. ICE has offered generous compensation to attract applicants, including a bonus of up to $50,000 and up to $60,000 in student loan forgiveness. But state and local police departments are offering similar bonuses ranging from $20,000 to $100,000 for recruits, as well as tuition reimbursement…”