The Trump administration has unveiled a controversial plan to offer state and local police officers quarterly bonuses of up to $1,000 for meeting immigration-arrest targets, intensifying its aggressive immigration enforcement strategy. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Tuesday that officers enrolled in the 287(g) program, which deputizes local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws during routine duties, are eligible for these "monetary performance awards."

Currently, approximately 8,500 officers across 40 states participate in the 287(g) task-force model, with an additional 2,000 in training. The program, historically reserved for federal agents, allows local police to make immigration-related arrests, a practice critics argue diverts resources from community safety. The bonuses, ranging from $500 to $1,000 per officer per quarter, are tied to the percentage of ICE-directed arrests achieved, DHS stated.

The initiative is part of a broader effort funded by a Republican-led spending bill passed in July, allocating over $150 billion for immigration and border security. This includes covering salaries, benefits, and up to 25% of overtime costs for 287(g) officers, alongside $50,000 hiring bonuses to recruit 10,000 new ICE officers and agents. ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan urged more agencies to join, framing it as a "national effort to ensure the safety of every American family."

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However, the plan has drawn sharp criticism. Political consultant Mike Madrid, co-founder of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project, called the bonuses a "bounty" that weaponizes local police, raising concerns about federal overreach. Critics also warn that such incentives could erode trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement, deterring crime reporting.

From January to August 23, ICE reported approximately 168,000 arrests and 150,000 deportations nationwide, underscoring the administration’s push for mass deportations. The exact cost of the bonus program remains unclear, but it marks a shift from past practices where DHS offered grants rather than direct payments for local immigration enforcement.

As the 287(g) program expands, debates over its implications for civil rights and community policing intensify, with opponents vowing to challenge the policy’s impact on local jurisdictions.

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