ICE Proposes Subsidies for Officer Liability Insurance

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is developing a plan to subsidize liability insurance for state and local police officers who make arrests under federal immigration authorities, a move aimed at encouraging more local departments to join the enforcement partnerships. The proposal would reimburse officers for up to $250 annually to cover policies providing up to $500,000 in personal liability coverage, according to a planning document released on August 15.

The initiative is designed to address a growing concern among local departments that have partnered with ICE to enforce immigration laws. Under these 287(g) programs, named for a section of a 1996 law, trained local officers can interrogate, arrest, and charge individuals suspected of being in the country illegally. Since President Donald Trump’s return to office, participation has surged, with nearly 1,600 agencies in 32 states now holding agreements. ICE data indicates that arrests through these programs averaged 3,000 per month in early 2026, a significant increase from the average of 250 monthly arrests in 2024.

As local officers take on this federal work, they have expressed worries about personal civil liability...