The Pikeville Police Department in Wayne County signed an agreement on August 20 with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to participate in the Task Force model of program 287(g), according to the federal agency.
The agreement expands the involvement of local law enforcement authorities in the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
Unlike the 287(g) models, which are primarily limited to individuals already in custody, the Task Force model allows local agents trained and authorized by ICE to perform certain immigration functions during their regular law enforcement duties.
Pikeville joins the five other North Carolina law enforcement agencies that have already adopted 287(g) agreements under the Task Force model.
Enlace Latino NC He contacted the Pikeville Police Department but had not received a response by the time of publication.
What is the 287(g) program?
The 287(g) program, established in the Immigration and Nationality Act, authorizes the federal government to delegate certain immigration functions to local police or marshal agencies.
Most 287(g) agreements in force in North Carolina These correspond to the “Jail Enforcement” or “Warrant Service Officer” models, which operate mainly in detention centers and prisons.
The “Task Force” model, on the other hand, allows officers to perform immigration duties on the street while carrying out routine police work. They can also participate in joint operations with ICE.
Main models
- Jail Enforcement Model (JEM): Allows trained officers in local jails to verify the immigration status of individuals arrested for state or local offenses and issue detainers for ICE.
- Warrant Service Officer (WSO): Authorizes local officials to serve ICE administrative arrest warrants (forms I-200 and I-205) against people in custody. It is more limited than the JEM, as it does not allow for immigration interviews or street patrols.
- Task Force Model (TFM): It allows local officers to collaborate on investigations and arrests in the community, outside of the prison setting. This model is rare and highly controversial.
Collaborations under the 287(g) program in North Carolina
At least 27 North Carolina public safety agencies participate in the federal 287(g) program, according to reviewed records.
Most of the agreements are under the “Warrant Service Officer” model and are with county sheriff's offices. Eight agreements involve municipal police departments, six of which are under the “Task Force” model.
The six municipal police departments participating under the “Task Force” model are those of Beulaville, Brookford, Kenansville, Newland, Pikeville and Robbins, located in Duplin, Catawba, Avery, Wayne and Moore counties, respectively.
In addition, the North Carolina General Assembly approved a measure that requires four state agencies to collaborate with the 287(g) programincluding the Highway Patrol. The agencies must submit a report to the legislature by October 1. It is not yet known what model they will implement.
Related: Find out which counties in the Carolinas have 287(g) agreements with ICE
A model that reappears
The Task Force model is not new at the national level, but it is a novelty for many local agencies.
The format was suspended more than a decade ago following controversies related to allegations of racial profiling and concerns about civil rights.
In 2025, the Trump administration decided to revive it and promote its expansion nationwide.
Since then, the number of 287(g) agreements has increased rapidly across the country.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that partnerships with state and local agencies grew significantly during 2025, driven largely by the resurgence of the “Task Force” model.
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