The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently proposed to assist locally trained and authorized law enforcement officers in paying for liability insurance to protect them from potential financial consequences when accused of misconduct while carrying out the task of arresting illegal immigrants.
According to a report by Reuters on Tuesday, August 18th, the proposal outlines a plan in which local officers can obtain up to $500,000 in professional liability insurance to cover legal fees, settlement costs, and judgment damages, depending on the policy terms.
Under the plan, local police officers can be reimbursed up to $250 annually for insurance costs.
The specific start date for the insurance plan is not yet clear.
The plan also mentions that ICE is considering hiring contractors to assist with specific collaborations between ICE and local departments under immigration law, including providing external contacts, training, and communication support.
Currently, support for ICE’s immigration enforcement actions by police departments and sheriff’s offices across the United States is primarily achieved through 287(g) cooperative agreements. The latest data shows that as of August 2026, approximately 1,600 local law enforcement agencies in 32 states have participated in some form of 287(g) cooperation.
The Florida local law enforcement department is one of the fastest-growing regions in terms of 287(g) expansion, with the Fort Walton Beach sheriff stating that the department sees working with federal immigration officials as an opportunity to access federal resources.
Even without 287(g) agreements, some local police departments still provide ICE with detention information, identification data, or assistance in contacting individuals. In Massachusetts, a survey conducted in 2026 found that out of 62 police departments, 28 had policies allowing or requiring cooperation with ICE.