U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee introduced the 287(g) Expansion Act to Congress, according to an April 29 announcement. The legislation aims to encourage more states and local governments to enter into agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the agency’s existing 287(g) program.
The proposed law is intended to strengthen cooperation between federal immigration authorities and local law enforcement agencies, which supporters say will improve public safety by allowing for the identification and removal of individuals in the country illegally who have committed crimes. The senators said that their bill would provide additional grant funding through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program for jurisdictions that sign a memorandum of understanding or agreement with ICE.
“No more excuses! When it comes to combating illegal immigration, local law enforcement has the legal authority and, if they choose, the means to go after criminal illegals in their communities. Our bill expands that opportunity. The 287(g) program is a longstanding partnership between federal and local law enforcement to combat illegal immigration. After four years of Biden’s open borders, it’s crucial that we expand this program to remove more dangerous illegal aliens,” said Senator Graham. “While sanctuary states and cities obstruct ICE, this legislation rewards law enforcement agencies who work with the federal government to keep our communities safe. By expanding the 287(g) program, we are moving forward – not backward – with rational immigration policies.”
Senator Blackburn said: “State and local law enforcement should be doing everything in their power to partner with the federal government to enforce the rule of law in our communities following the Biden Border Crisis. The 287(g) Expansion Act would strengthen immigration enforcement nationwide by offering states that agree to work with ICE more grant funding through the Byrne Memorial JAG Program, which is the primary federal grant funding stream for state and local law enforcement.”
The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 added Section 287(g) as part of U.S. immigration policy authorizing ICE partnerships with state or local officers under its supervision for certain functions related to enforcing federal laws on non-citizens’ status or deportation procedures.
As reported by the official website, Graham served as a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserves for over three decades before his Senate career representing South Carolina; he also chaired key committees such as Budget during his tenure in Congress.
Graham grew up in Central, South Carolina in a blue-collar family background according to his official biography, later obtaining both undergraduate studies and a law degree from University of South Carolina.
South Carolina currently has signed forty-six agreements under this program as one among thirty-nine participating states; however twelve other states plus Washington D.C., classified as sanctuary jurisdictions, do not participate at all.
