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For the last four years, law enforcement agencies nationwide have been confronting unprecedented consequences created by the Biden administration’s devastating open-border policies.  

Just as President Donald Trump was returning to office in January, Tennessee Republicans were taking critical steps to support his immigration agenda by passing laws to remove dangerous criminals from our streets.

We passed legislation creating a state immigration enforcement division within the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security to improve coordination between state, local and federal agencies.

An important benefit for law enforcement in the law is a new state grant program that supports local agencies entering into 287(g) agreements with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

For sheriffs and police chiefs, this is a proven tool to keep their communities safe. It’s voluntary, constitutional and highly effective.

The 287(g) programs allow trained local officers, typically jail deputies, to identify and process criminal aliens already in custody.

Two of the models within the program are the Jail Enforcement Model (JEM) and the Warrant Service Officer Model (WSO).

Under the JEM, local officers are trained and authorized by ICE to identify, process and detain individuals already in custody for immigration violations.  This speeds up case processing.

The WSO model allows officers, after completing an online training course, to serve civil immigration warrants on behalf of ICE within their detention facilities, instead of out in the community.

These models are focused and practical. Officers don’t deal with street-level immigration issues; these programs specifically target lawbreakers already in custody for other crimes. 

Shockingly, between Oct.1-Dec. 31, 2024 approximately 2,719 illegal immigrants were charged with crimes in Tennessee, which included 11 homicides and 447 violent offenses, according to a report from the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference.

That’s in just three months in 73 of 95 counties that provided their data.  If these models were implemented statewide, it would guarantee those 2,719 criminals are not released back into our neighborhoods.

Our communities are fed up with the increased drug trafficking, gang violence and repeat offenders who never should have been here in the first place.

ICE continues to do an outstanding job identifying and removing illegal aliens, but they cannot reverse four years of open-border damage alone.

They need our support and these 287(g) agreements are how Tennessee can step up and help.

Most recently, the Florida Sheriff’s Association announced all of the Sunshine State’s 67 counties would be participating in the 287(g) program to ensure every county jail has an ICE-deputized officer in place.

Currently, only seven counties in Tennessee are participating in the program. This must change. I urge every sheriff and police chief across the state to act now.  

The process is straightforward. The training is covered and the state offers financial support to help agencies get started. These programs work.

Most important, these programs prevent the release of criminal illegal aliens back into our communities.

We have the tools. The funding is available. Now it’s time to act.

Let’s make it clear that Tennessee enforces the law and protects its citizens.

Lee Reeves serves District 65 of the Tennessee House of Representatives, which includes part of Williamson County.

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