Several Jackson Purchase law enforcement agencies signed agreements to cooperate with ICE.

Law enforcement agencies in 39 states have signed Section 287(g) since President Trunp took office last year. These agreements include jail enforcement, Task Force and Tribal Task Force models and Warrant Service Officer programs.

The Task Force model was originally discontinued in 2012 for Civil Rights abuses, according to the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, but it was revived by President Trump shortly after taking office.

What is a Section 287(g)?

According to ICE’s website, the Section 287(g) agreement allows the agency to delegate law enforcement at the state and local levels, and with Indian tribes via another statute, to “perform specified immigration officer functions under ICE’s direction and oversight.”

Under the agreement, the Jail Enforcement, Task Force, Tribal Task Force and Warrant Service Officer program models are described.

• Jail Enforcement: to identify and process removable aliens, either with criminal or pending criminal charges.
• Task Force: authorizes law enforcement to act with limited immigration authority during their routine.
• Tribal Task Force: authorizes tribal law enforcement to act with limited immigration authority during their routine.
• Warrant Service Officer program: authorizes the training, certification and authorization of law enforcement by ICE, to serve and execute warrants.

The following Jackson Purchase law enforcement agencies have signed this agreement.

Each have signed for the Task Force Model.

• Carlisle County Sheriff’s Office; signed Dec. 8, 2025.
• Fulton County Sheriff’s Office; signed Nov. 11, 2025.
• Hickman County Sheriff’s Office; signed Nov. 14, 2025.
• Hickman Police Department; signed Jan. 7.
• Marshall County Sheriff’s Office; signed May 5, 2025.
• McCracken County Sheriff’s Office; Jan. 26.

The Excel spreadsheet of this information, and for every other agency in Kentucky and the nation, can be found on the page for Section 287(g), or it can be downloaded here as a Google Sheet.

The agency also provides a spreadsheet of potential law enforcement partnerships. It can also be downloaded here.

At this time, no more Jackson Purchase law enforcement are listed on either spreadsheet, but ICE does operate in the region, according to the Kentucky Center For Economic Policy.

ICE activity in the region

The map displayed on The KCFEP’s story on ICE, “Amid Mounting Harms, Kentucky Is Ramping Up Anti-Immigrant Enforcement,” posted on Feb. 5, shows ICE activity across Kentucky.

According to the map, Paducah and McCracken County are the more dense with ICE activity, followed roughly by Wickliffe, Hickman, Mayfield and Murray.

Samuel Bierds, Murray Police Department chief, said to The News the department has not signed a Section 287(g) agreement with ICE, confirming the spreadsheet, however continues to collaborate with local, state and federal partners in the interest of apprehending criminals for safety of the community.

“Our officers do not ask about immigration or citizenship status during routine interactions, and our focus remains on addressing violations of criminal law and protecting community safety,” Bierds said. “We remain committed to our mission of providing public safety with integrity, fairness, and professionalism for all who live, work, study, and visit our community.

Calloway County Sheriff’s Office did not reply by press time for publication.

Proposed ICE legislation

Kentucky has four bills in session with the intention of increasing the powers of ICE, beginning with House Bill 47.

The legislation would require Kentucky State Police to operate within the perimeters of the Task Force Model, and for participating officers to receive annual ICE training.

HB 62 criminalizes the employment of “unauthorized” aliens as a Class D misdemeanor. HB 76 would require persons to require proof of citizenship or they are lawfully permitted to be in the United States. HB 361 would, in summary, prohibit the establishment of sanctuary cities, requiring law enforcement to act in the interest of ICE and comply with federal requirements.

At this time, each of these bills are currently sitting with the House Judiciary Committee, waiting to be pushed through the next legislative process. 

In Washington D.C., Sen. Cory Booker (D) introduced bill S.3699 to the Senate on Jan. 26. 

“A bill to amend section 287 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to require all Federal law enforcement officers engaged in or supporting immigration enforcement or related enforcement activities to wear and operate a body camera while on duty to ensure transparency and accountability,” the bill reads.

Booker’s bill remains in the introductory phase, only sponsored by two Democrats.