Tennessee Law Enforcement Agencies Expand ICE Partnerships Under New State Law

A growing number of Tennessee law enforcement agencies are entering into agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to assist in carrying out federal immigration enforcement within the state. Part of this pattern stems from recently enacted Tennessee legislation mandating that police departments establish cooperation agreements with the federal immigration authority. The rise in numbers coincides with a period of growing opposition to the Trump administration's immigration enforcement methods, including in parts of East Tennessee. Advocates of stricter immigration enforcement have cited data showing a growing number of individuals with criminal convictions or pending charges detained through the policy. By September 16, 2026, most Tennessee sheriff's offices and numerous municipal law enforcement bodies, including police departments, had enrolled in some form of ICE's 287(g) program. Three distinct categories of 287(g) agreements exist, each placing varying demands on the local law enforcement agencies involved. Of all the cooperative arrangements between a local agency and ICE, the Task Force Model places the greatest demands on available personnel and funding. Participating agencies assign police personnel the duties of federal immigration enforcement under the Task Force Model. Designated members of the local task force are authorized to carry out certain immigration officer duties under ICE oversight, while the local agency is also required to pursue criminal charges against any detained individual before transferring them to federal custody. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has committed to providing training for task force personnel. Certain contracts also carry additional perks beyond their standard terms. According to ICE paperwork, qualifying agencies could receive up to $7,500 for equipment purchases and as much as $100,000 toward new vehicles. According to ICE records, officer compensation and benefits are reimbursed in full. Under this arrangement, county facilities detain individuals on behalf of federal immigration authorities in return for payment. Individuals being transferred between regions will often pass through local facilities on a temporary basis along the way. Detainees held under such arrangements may remain in custody anywhere from a matter of hours to several days. The Knox County Sheriff's Office in East Tennessee has historically operated under the jail enforcement model, and under newly-elected Sheriff Brent Gibson, the department has additionally joined the Task Force Model. Earlier coverage indicated that the Knox County Sheriff's Office was incurring financial losses from housing federal detainees. Under the Warrant Service Officer program, ICE invites local law enforcement agencies to select, prepare, and deploy one of their personnel to assist at various stages of the immigration legal process. Under the agreement, assigned personnel receive defined authority to question individuals suspected of lacking valid immigration status, deliver legal notices to those held in detention, and oversee the accommodation of detainees. Under the Warrant Service Officer agreement, participating agencies receive officer training and credentials through ICE, along with access to U.S. Department of Justice legal representation in the event of a lawsuit. The local organisation remains obligated to fund day-to-day operations and supply both translation services and security-related equipment. Under Tennessee's HB2018 and SB1486, police departments would be obligated to comply with federal immigration detention requests issued by ICE. The statute's provisions mirror the conditions outlined in ICE's 287(g) Jail Enforcement Model, under which local authorities detain individuals in return for payment. Both county-level sheriff's offices and city police departments across Tennessee have entered into formal agreements with federal immigration enforcement authorities. While the majority of agencies have adopted the Warrant Service Officer framework, a number have taken on higher-intensity arrangements, or more than one agreement. Religious leaders throughout East Tennessee jointly released an open letter opposing their local agencies' involvement in 287(g) immigration enforcement partnerships.

Tennessee Law Enforcement Agencies Expand ICE Partnerships Under New State Law

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Tennessee Law Enforcement Agencies Expand ICE Partnerships Under New State Law

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