WASHINGTON, D.C.—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).

“Congressman Cloud’s 287(g) Program Protection Act would make clear Congress’ intent that the 287(g) program be preserved and fortified. Not only would the administration be required to respond to new 287(g) contract requests in a timely manner, they would no longer be allowed to terminate or deny contracts without documented, compelling reasons. Furthermore, state or local officers who had their 287(g) contract terminated by the Department of Homeland Security would have the right to appeal the decision. NumbersUSA applauds Congressman Cloud for standing for the rule of law in immigration enforcement and insisting that communities have a right to be protected from criminal aliens.” – Rosemary Jenks, Director of Government Relations for NumbersUSA

“The Biden administration has repeatedly abused its authority by opening our southern border and refusing to enforce immigration laws in the interior of the country. A key part of their open borders agenda is functionally abolishing ICE by gutting resources, funding, and effective programs. One of those programs is 287(g), which allows cooperation between ICE and state and local law enforcement. This may be pleasing to radical activists, but it endangers American families and communities. To address this, Congressman Michael Cloud is taking a bold step to protect the 287(g) program from abuse by requiring 6 months advance public notice before terminating an existing 287(g) agreement, requiring new applications to be approved within 3 months, and imposing stringent recruitment and reporting requirements. These common sense measures will make ICE think twice before pursuing more ideologically driven 287(g) terminations. FAIR wholeheartedly supports this bill and applauds Congressman Cloud for taking action.” – RJ Hauman, head of government relations and communications at the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)