ICE Proposes $500,000 Liability Coverage for Local Immigration Arrests as 287(g) Agencies Near 1,600
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Aug 17
ICE Proposes $500,000 Liability Coverage for Local Immigration Arrests as 287(g) Agencies Near 1,600
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Aug 17
Summary
$500,000 in personal liability coverage is at the center of an ICE plan to reimburse deputized local officers up to $250 a year for insurance tied to immigration arrests.
ICE is pitching the subsidy because many local agencies fear lawsuits over wrongful arrest, force, or illegal searches, and some existing municipal coverage excludes proactive immigration enforcement.
Nearly 1,600 agencies in 32 states now participate in ICE's 287(g) task-force model, and arrests through local partners rose to about 3,000 a month in early 2026 from 250 in 2024.
Sheriffs' groups called the idea promising as legal claims and protest scrutiny grow, while critics said subsidized coverage would further shield officers from accountability for misconduct.
ICE has asked industry for feedback by Thursday on hiring a contractor to manage outreach, training, the insurance vendor and reimbursements; the launch date and total cost remain unclear.