Elevated
Significant Risk of Terrorist Attacks
August 18, 2008
ICE ACCESS (Agreements of Cooperation in Communities to Enhance Safety and Security) provides local law enforcement agencies an opportunity to team with ICE to combat specific challenges in their communities.
The 287(g) program is only one component under the ICE ACCESS umbrella of services and programs offered for assistance to local law enforcement officers.
ICE developed the ACCESS program in response to the widespread interest from local law enforcement agencies who have requested ICE assistance through the 287(g) program, which trains local officers to enforce immigration law as authorized through section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Terrorism and criminal activity are most effectively combated through a multi-agency/multi-authority approach that encompasses federal, state and local resources, skills and expertise. State and local law enforcement play a critical role in protecting our homeland because they are often the first responders on the scene when there is an incident or attack against the United States. During the course of daily duties, they will often encounter foreign-born criminals and immigration violators who pose a threat to national security or public safety.
The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRAIRA), effective September 30, 1996, added Section 287(g), performance of immigration officer functions by state officers and employees, to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This authorizes the secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies, permitting designated officers to perform immigration law enforcement functions, pursuant to a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), provided that the local law enforcement officers receive appropriate training and function under the supervision of sworn U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
The cross-designation between ICE and state and local patrol officers, detectives, investigators and correctional officers working in conjunction with ICE allows these local and state officers: necessary resources and latitude to pursue investigations relating to violent crimes, human smuggling, gang/organized crime activity, sexual-related offenses, narcotics smuggling and money laundering; and increased resources and support in more remote geographical locations.
The MOA defines the scope and limitations of the authority to be designated. It also establishes the supervisory structure for the officers working under the cross-designation and prescribes the agreed upon complaint process governing officer conduct during the life of the MOA. Under the statute, ICE will supervise all cross-designated officers when they exercise their immigration authorities. The agreement must be signed by the ICE Assistant Secretary, and the governor, a senior political entity, or the head of the local agency before trained local officers are authorized to enforce immigration law.
ICE offers a four-week training program now held at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Advanced Training Site in Charleston, SC conducted by certified instructors.
State |
MOA Name |
Type |
Signed |
AL |
AL State Police |
TFO |
9/10/2003 |
AL |
Etowah County Sheriff's Office |
JEO |
7/8/2008 |
AR |
Benton County Sheriff's Office |
JEO/TFO |
9/26/2007 |
AR |
City of Springdale Police Department |
TFO |
9/26/2007 |
AR |
Rogers Police Department |
TFO |
9/25/2007 |
AR |
Washington County Sheriff's Office AR |
JEO/TFO |
9/26/2007 |
AZ |
AZ Department of Corrections |
JEO |
9/16/2005 |
AZ |
AZ Department of Public Safety |
TFO |
4/15/2007 |
AZ |
City of Phoenix Police Department |
TFO |
3/10/2008 |
AZ |
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office |
JEO/TFO |
2/7/2007 |
AZ |
Pima County Sheriff's Office |
JEO/TFO |
3/10/2008 |
AZ |
Pinal County Sheriff's Office |
JEO/TFO |
3/10/2008 |
AZ |
Yavapai County Sheriff's Office |
JEO/TFO |
3/10/2008 |
CA |
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office |
JEO |
2/1/2005 |
CA |
Orange County Sheriff's Office |
JEO |
11/2/2006 |
CA |
Riverside County Sheriff's Office |
JEO |
4/28/2006 |
CA |
San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office |
JEO |
10/19/2005 |
CO |
CO Department of Public Safety |
TFO |
3/29/2007 |
CO |
El Paso County Sheriff's Office |
JEO |
5/17/2007 |
FL |
Bay County Sheriff's Office |
TFO |
6/15/2008 |
FL |
Brevard County Sheriff's Office |
JEO |
8/13/2008 |
FL |
Collier County Sheriff's Office |
JEO/TFO |
8/6/2007 |
FL |
FL Department of Law Enforcement |
TFO |
7/2/2002 |
FL |
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office |
JEO |
7/8/2008 |
FL |
Manatee County Sheriff's Office |
JEO |
7/8/2008 |
GA |
Cobb County Sheriff's Office |
JEO |
2/13/2007 |
GA |
GA Department of Public Safety |
TFO |
7/27/2007 |
GA |
Hall County Sheriff's Office |
JEO/TFO |
2/29/2008 |
GA |
Whitfield County Sheriff's Office |
JEO |
2/4/2008 |
MA |
Barnstable County Sheriff's Office |
JEO |
8/25/2007 |
MA |
Framingham Police Department |
TFO |
8/14/2007 |
MA |
MA Department of Corrections |
JEO |
3/26/2007 |
MD |
Frederick County Sheriff's Office |
JEO/TFO |
2/6/2008 |
MO |
MO State Highway Patrol |
TFO |
6/25/2008 |
NC |
Alamance County Sheriff's Office |
JEO |
1/10/2007 |
NC |
Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office |
JEO |
8/2/2007 |
NC |
Cumberland County Sheriff's Office |
JEO |
6/25/2008 |
NC |
Durham Police Department |
TFO |
2/1/2008 |
NC |
Gaston County Sheriff's Office |
JEO |
2/22/2007 |
NC |
Henderson County Sheriff's Office |
JEO |
6/25/2008 |
NC |
Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office |
JEO |
2/27/2006 |
NC |
Wake County Sheriff's Office |
JEO |
6/25/2008 |
NH |
Hudson City Police Department |
TFO |
5/5/2007 |
NM |
NM Department of Corrections |
JEO |
9/17/2007 |
OH |
Butler County Sheriff’s Office |
JEO/TFO |
2/5/2008 |
OK |
Tulsa County Sheriff's Office |
JEO/TFO |
8/6/2007 |
SC |
Beaufort County Sheriff's Office |
TFO |
6/25/2008 |
SC |
York County Sheriff's Office |
JEO |
10/16/2007 |
TN |
Davidson County Sheriff's Office |
JEO |
2/21/2007 |
TN |
TN Department of Safety |
TFO |
6/25/2008 |
TX |
Carrollton Police Department |
JEO |
8/12/2008 |
TX |
Farmers Branch Police Dept. |
TFO |
7/8/2008 |
TX |
Harris County Sheriff's Office |
JEO |
7/20/2008 |
VA |
City of Manassas Police Department |
TFO |
3/5/2008 |
VA |
Herndon Police Department |
TFO |
3/21/2007 |
VA |
Loudoun County Sheriff's Office |
TFO |
6/25/2008 |
VA |
Manassas Park Police Department |
TFO |
3/10/2008 |
VA |
Prince William County Police Department |
TFO |
2/26/2008 |
VA |
Prince William County Sheriff's Office |
TFO |
2/26/2008 |
VA |
Prince William-Manassas Adult Detention Center |
JEO |
7/9/2007 |
VA |
Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office |
JEO/TFO |
4/25/2007 |
VA |
Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Office |
TFO |
5/10/2007 |
JEO = Jail Enforcement Officers
TFO = Task Force Officers
For more information on Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, please visit the FAQ page or you may request an information packet via the Section 287g form.