Rep Cloud Introduces Bill to Bolster ICE Partnerships with Local Cops

Press Release

Today, Congressman Michael Cloud (TX-27) introduced the 287(g) Program Protection Act to ensure state and local officials are able to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain and deport criminal illegal immigrants.

Congressman Cloud's bill seeks to build on the proven-successful 287(g) program which has helped local law enforcement secure and protect their communities by acting as a force multiplier for an already stretched-thin ICE.

Through this program, state and local law enforcement agencies can apply for a Memorandum of Agreement with ICE, allowing local law enforcement to help ICE detain and remove criminal illegal immigrants residing in the U.S.

As soon as the Biden administration took office in 2021, the expansion of the 287(g) program slowed dramatically since the Administration has not approved any new agreements.

To build upon this proven-successful program, Congressman Cloud's 287(g) Program Protection Act would:

Require the Secretary of Homeland Security to approve 287(g) applications for an agreement within 90 days, and notify Congress in advance of denying any applications for a compelling reason.
Require the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide written notice of its intent to terminate the agreement at least 180 days in advance;
Require the Secretary of Homeland Security to publish an annual performance report that conducts oversight over the program;
Require the Secretary of Homeland security to publish an annual recruitment strategy that discloses goals for recruiting law enforcement agencies to participate in the program.

"Rather than empowering state and local law enforcement to work with ICE to detain and deport criminal illegal immigrants, the Biden administration has slow-walked the 287(g) program to reduce its effectiveness," Congressman Cloud said. "The Biden administration's carelessness about enforcing our immigration laws continues to benefit criminals while harming law-abiding Americans. My bill enables the proven-effective 287(g) program to be implemented widely to allow state and local law enforcement more control in keeping their communities safe."

The 287(g) Program Protection Act is supported by NumbersUSA and Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).

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