What on Earth is the ICE 287(g) WSO Program in Bay County?

Section 287(g) was added to the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, authorizing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to delegate to state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform specified immigration officer functions under the agency’s direction and oversight.

The 287(g) Program enhances the safety and security of our nation’s communities by allowing ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) to partner with state and local law enforcement agencies to identify and remove incarcerated criminal noncitizens who are amenable to removal from the U.S. before they are released into the community.

ICE recognizes the importance of its relationships with its law enforcement partners to carry out its critical mission.

The 287(g) program allows ICE, through the delegation of specified immigration officer duties, to enhance collaboration with state and local law enforcement partners to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of noncitizens who undermine the safety of our nation’s communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws.

ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations operates two 287(g) models:

●      The Jail Enforcement Model (JEM) is designed to identify and process removable noncitizens — with criminal or pending criminal charges — who are arrested by state or local law enforcement agencies.

●      The Warrant Service Officer (WSO) program allows ICE to train, certify and authorize state and local law enforcement officers to serve and execute administrative warrants on noncitizens in their agency’s jail.

As of December 2024, ICE has 287(g) JEM agreements with 60 law enforcement agencies in 16 states, including Florida; and 287(g) WSO agreements with 75 law enforcement agencies in 11 states, including Florida. Many County Sheriff Offices in Florida, including Bay County, have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with ICE which can be terminated at any time by either party.

This is a link to the Memorandum of Agreement for Bay County, Florida.