Since the Trump administration began mass deportation operations, Democrats and the Left have been losing their collective minds. Despite immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents being charged with getting rid of "the worst of the worst" of illegal immigrants, the Left insists on putting illegal immigrants ahead of American citizens and impeding ICE operations at every turn. In many blue cities and states, local law enforcement is prohibited from cooperating with ICE. Much to the chagrin of the left, however, that may be changing.
VIDEO: Maryland Sheriffs Vow to Defy Democrat Gov. Wes Moore's Ban on Working with ICE https://t.co/zLkNJ30Oqp
— Steve Ferguson (@lsferguson) February 16, 2026
According to new data by FWD.US, a nonpartisan policy organization, collaborations between local law enforcement and ICE agents that permit police officers to make federal immigration arrests have seen a sharp increase during the first year of Trump 2.0. In the first year of Trump's second term alone, arrests by local officers have risen by 950 percent. As of January 26, 1,168 local agencies have officers trained to assist ICE agents. That's up from just 135 during the Biden administration, and 150 at the end of Trump's first term.
READ MORE: Good: ICE Reportedly Planning Eight, 10,000-Bed Deportation Facilities by Nov.
Part of the uptick in local assistance stems from the revival of a "task force" model in which officers are "deputized" so they are able to stop and arrest individuals if they have reason to believe they are in the country illegally. But as might be expected, blue cities in otherwise red states may have a problem. In October of 2025, Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux turned down a $25 million partnership with ICE, even after Mayor Eric Johnson urged other elected officials to “explore the potential benefits" from such a program. The chief stated that he was concerned that officers would be pulled away from their normal duties. In blue Montgomery County, Maryland, the district attorney, along with the police chiefs association, released a statement which read in part:
The Montgomery County Detective Bureau and police departments in Montgomery County do not enforce civil immigration orders; enforceable warrants must be signed by a judge.
In other red states like Louisiana, Republican governors have left local law enforcement with no choice. In May of 2025, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed an executive order that directed state and local law enforcement to assist ICE operations.
NEW: ICE announces the arrests of 650 illegal aliens in West Virginia as part of an operation with cooperation from local law enforcement via the 287(g) program. Per ICE, those arrested have convictions for child sex abuse, drug possession and endangering the welfare of…
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) February 1, 2026
Per ICE, those arrested have convictions for child sex abuse, drug possession and endangering the welfare of children.
The 287(g) program offers a lucrative deal to local law enforcement. It includes $7,500 per officer for equipment, $100,000 for new vehicles, and overtime pay of up to 25 percent of an officer's salary. There are 39 states where law enforcement assists ICE. Not surprisingly, red states are the most likely participants, with Florida topping the list at 324 agreements, Texas with 296, Tennessee with 63, and Alabama with 52. Even swing state Pennsylvania has joined the mix with 58 assistance programs.
Look no further than Minnesota and Florida for the stark contrast between where local cooperation exists and where it does not. Even after Border Czar Tom Homan announced that operations in Minneapolis were scaling back, protesters were still out on Sunday. Many of the protesters are skeptical of the drawdown in ICE operations, which may keep demonstrations going. Then there is Florida, where my colleague Brad Slager recently reported that the Sunshine State is working smarter, not harder, by combining illegal immigrant apprehension with fish and game violations, proving that, in Florida, there is more than one way to catch illegal immigrants.
The American public also seems to be on the side of local and federal cooperation. Two recent polls show that an overwhelming majority of Americans, including Democrats, favor the deportation of illegal immigrants and support ICE enforcing immigration laws. What is it going to take for Democrats and the left to figure out that Tom Homan and the boys are not going anywhere anytime soon?
WIDESPREAD SUPPORT.
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) February 4, 2026
Local law enforcement cooperation with @ICEgov and @CBP is the common sense position among Minnesotans. Americans are demanding that sanctuary politicians honor ICE detainment orders for criminal illegal aliens.
Anti-ICE agitators do not speak for American… pic.twitter.com/VZsRSPH8iL
Anti-ICE agitators do not speak for American citizens who are DONE being victimized by illegal aliens and the politicians who enable them.
Editor's Note: ICE and CBP continue to put themselves in harm's way in order to protect America’s sovereignty and to keep our streets safe.
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