To find out whether a state police agency cooperates with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), check ICE’s current 287(g) participant map, then review the agency’s policies, the laws that apply to it, and—if needed—request its records. A missing 287(g) listing does not prove that the agency never shares information or assists ICE: those activities can happen outside the formal program.
What “cooperate with ICE” can mean
Cooperation is not one single arrangement. Separate formal delegated immigration authority from information sharing and other assistance; evidence of one does not establish the others.
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- 287(g) agreement: A formal arrangement under which ICE delegates specified immigration-enforcement authority to participating state or local officers.
- Information sharing: Providing immigration-status information or other information to federal authorities. The type of information matters, and applicable rules can differ.
- Detainer or release notification: Responding to an ICE request for information about a person’s release or asking a facility to hold someone temporarily.
- Operational or technical support: Participating in joint operations, granting database access, or providing other assistance.
Also identify the exact entity you mean. State police, a county sheriff, a jail, and a municipal police department are distinct agencies; a relationship involving one does not establish a relationship involving another.
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Check whether the agency has a 287(g) agreement
- Open ICE’s 287(g) program page and use its participant map or current participant listing.
- Search for the state police agency’s exact official name. Check whether the listing names that agency itself—not just a sheriff’s office, jail, or local department.
- Read the entry for the model and status. ICE describes three models: Jail Enforcement, Task Force, and Warrant Service Officer.
- Record the date you checked. Listings can change, so an old page, news story, or archived document may not show the agency’s current status.
The model helps define what to investigate next. ICE says the Task Force Model can allow officers to exercise limited immigration authority during routine police duties and share information directly with ICE. That description explains the program model; it does not establish how a particular agency operates in practice.
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A listing is evidence of a formal program relationship, not a complete account of every form of cooperation. Conversely, no listing is not proof that the agency never responds to requests, shares information, or assists in other ways.
Look for policies and laws covering other forms of cooperation
Search the agency’s website and the state legislature’s current law database. Useful search terms include:
- “287(g)” or “memorandum of agreement”
- “immigration detainer”
- “immigration status”
- “release notification”
- “federal immigration authorities”
- “task force”
- “database access”
Read the actual policy or law, not only a summary. Note which agency it covers, what information or assistance it addresses, whether it describes a request or a requirement, and when it took effect. State and local rules vary, and some decisions may be made locally rather than by state law.
Keep information categories distinct. For example, New York Attorney General guidance distinguishes immigration-status information from nonpublic details such as a person’s address or release information. That is an example of state-specific guidance, not a nationwide rule; consult the law and guidance applicable to the agency you are examining.
Understand what an ICE detainer does—and does not show
ICE describes a detainer as a request for release information and asks a facility to hold a person for up to 48 hours. A U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General memorandum describes detainers as voluntary requests and documents variation among jurisdictions. Those descriptions do not determine what a particular state police agency may or must do: that depends on governing law and agency practice.
To assess detainer cooperation, look for the agency’s written response policy and records showing what it actually did. A policy about detainers does not, by itself, establish how often requests were received or whether the agency complied in particular cases.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Request records if public information leaves gaps
Use the public-records process that applies to the agency and state. Make the request to the agency whose conduct you want to understand, and specify a date range. Ask for identifiable record categories rather than a general explanation.
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- Policies and procedures for ICE requests, detainers, release notifications, information sharing, and operational assistance.
- Detainer counts and records of transfers to federal custody for the specified period.
- Task-force participation and operational records.
- Protocols or agreements governing database access.
- Related expenditures, overtime, reimbursements, or other costs.
These record types can help distinguish a formal agreement from day-to-day practice. A response may be partial, may require clarification, or may not include every requested record; follow up on missing categories and ask the agency to identify any records withheld or unavailable under the applicable process.
How to weigh what you find
For a reliable answer, compare records that address the same agency and time period. An official agreement establishes a formal relationship; a current agency policy describes stated practice; statutes establish legal requirements or limits; and counts or operational records can show activity. A secondary summary can point you toward those materials but should not replace them.
Quick Recap
- Formal versus informal: Is there a 287(g) agreement, or is the evidence about information sharing, requests, or assistance outside that program?
- Activity: Which specific conduct is documented—status disclosures, detainer responses, release notices, database access, or joint operations?
- Authority: What law or policy governs that conduct, and does it apply to this agency?
- Time and completeness: Are the records current and do they cover the period you care about?
- Entity: Do the records name state police, or do they concern a different agency in the state?
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