President Trump is ramping up his immigration crackdown, pushing for a controversial move that would allow local sheriffs across America to take on more authority in enforcing immigration laws. The idea centers around expanding the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) 287(g) program, a collaboration between ICE and state or local law enforcement. This move could lead to massive deportation efforts starting from day one of Trump’s next term.

The 287(g) program, which has been around since 1996, lets ICE partner with local law enforcement to identify and detain individuals suspected of being in the country illegally—particularly those who are already incarcerated for other crimes. Under Trump’s plan, local deputies would have the power to question and detain individuals suspected of being undocumented while performing their routine duties, but only after they’ve been arrested for other criminal charges.

One of the loudest voices supporting this move is Butler County, Ohio, Sheriff Richard Jones, who’s eager to rejoin the program after losing access to it under President Biden’s administration. Jones told Fox News, “We could actually go to the workplace and enforce immigration laws… This President took it all away from all the sheriffs across the country.”

Sheriff Jones is passionate about bringing back the powers granted under 287(g) to help crack down on illegal immigration, especially in workplaces where undocumented immigrants are often exploited. He explained, “We were trained, we had the certification, and President Biden’s administration took it all away from us. We’re gonna get that back. We’ve been in contact with ICE.”

The sheriff’s proposal is not just about enforcement; it’s about efficiency. Jones argues that involving local law enforcement—over 3,300 sheriff’s departments across the country—could make deportation efforts more manageable than relying on thousands of local police departments. He continued, “It’s easier to deal with one local law enforcement in each county than it is with thousands and thousands of police departments.”

Sheriff Jones also believes the 287(g) program can help alleviate some of the challenges ICE faces with deportation efforts. “When you start going out and enforcing and apprehending people that are here illegally, and enforcing the laws where people work in these factories illegally… we’ve got citizens coming to us with information,” he said. Jones highlighted how communities are eager for help, and by involving local law enforcement, deportation efforts can be more widespread and thorough.

But what exactly is the 287(g) program, and why does it matter? The program was first introduced under President Bill Clinton and became part of the Immigration and Nationality Act. It allows ICE to work closely with local and state police to identify and remove noncitizens who are incarcerated for crimes. The goal is to ensure that criminal noncitizens are not only incarcerated but also deported once their sentence is served.

For years, the program was a powerful tool in the fight against illegal immigration, but during the Biden administration, it was scaled back significantly. This left many local sheriffs, like Jones, frustrated with their inability to contribute to federal efforts. Trump’s push for a bigger role for local law enforcement in immigration enforcement represents a direct challenge to the current administration’s approach.

If this new expansion of the 287(g) program is implemented, it could significantly alter the landscape of immigration enforcement in America. Local sheriffs would play a larger role in targeting suspected illegal immigrants, particularly in communities where they have more direct access......

Trump’s plan to empower local sheriffs through the 287(g) program is an ambitious step toward his larger goal of mass deportation. With figures like Sheriff Jones advocating for the return of these powers, it’s clear that many local law enforcement officials are ready to take a stronger stance on illegal immigration.........

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World Tribune

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