Since the start of Donald Trump’s second administration, North Carolina has become one of the 15 states with the highest number of 287(g) agreements, a program that allows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to delegate immigration enforcement authority to state and local law enforcement agencies.
In practice, this means that local sheriffs and police departments are authorized to carry out duties typically performed by federal immigration agents. For example, they can verify individuals’ immigration status, issue detainers (requests to hold a person in custody for immigration purposes), and, in some cases, make civil immigration arrests.
The program has expanded dramatically under the current administration. It is now one of the main mechanisms through which immigration enforcement reaches communities where ICE typically has a limited presence.
The most aggressive version of the 287(g) program advances in North Carolina
The 287(g) program can take different forms depending on the strategic guidelines of each local law enforcement agency.
There are essentially three different models. The two considered somewhat less aggressive are the “Jail Enforcement Model,” which allows officers to verify the immigration status of people who have been arrested and issue detainers for ICE in local jails, and the “Warrant Service Officer” model. The latter authorizes local officers to execute ICE administrative arrest warrants for individuals already in custody. It is more limited than the Jail Enforcement Model, as it does not allow for immigration interviews or street patrols.
These two versions of the 287(g) program, limited to individuals already detained for other offenses, have historically predominated in North Carolina. However, since September 2025, a concerning shift has emerged. Six local law enforcement agencies have adopted the most aggressive 287(g) model, known as the “Task Force Model.” This model, which had never been implemented in the state before, allows local officers to collaborate in investigations and arrests in the community, outside the jail setting. These agreements authorize officers to enforce immigration laws on the streets.
This means that everyday encounters with police — for example, during traffic stops, investigations or checkpoints — can have immediate immigration consequences.
Which local agencies have signed “Task Force” agreements with ICE in North Carolina?
Currently, six local agencies have signed these types of agreements with ICE.
They include the Robbins Police Department, the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, the Newland Police Department, the Beulaville Police Department, the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office and the Brookford Police Department.
In these six areas, local law enforcement officers can now detain individuals on the streets for immigration-related reasons, an authority that has historically belonged to federal agents.
All of these agreements have been signed since September 2025.
100% of 287(g) agreements in North Carolina have been signed under Trump administrations
Beyond the “Task Force” model — the most aggressive and entirely new in North Carolina — there are 23 other local law enforcement agencies in the state that have signed 287(g) agreements with ICE.
This brings the total to 29 agreements, according to data compiled by The Markup and cross-checked with official documents. The figure places North Carolina among the 15 states with the highest number of 287(g) agreements.
All of these agreements have been signed during Donald Trump’s first and second administrations. While most of the agreements began to be established during his first term (2017–2021), the pace accelerated again starting in 2020 and surged following his return to the White House in January 2025.
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