Tennessee Sheriffs Must Partner with ICE Under Bill Headed to Governor
Tennessee lawmakers passed legislation requiring all 95 county sheriffs to partner with ICE or lose state funding, with a January 2027 deadline if signed by the governor.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE — All 95 Tennessee county sheriffs will be required to enter cooperative agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement under legislation that passed a final Senate vote Thursday and now awaits Gov. Bill Lee’s signature.
The bill mandates sheriffs to enter so-called 287(g) agreements with the federal government or risk losing state funding. If signed into law by Lee, the agreements would give sheriffs a January 1, 2027 deadline to comply.
Local police forces are not covered by the legislation and would retain autonomy over the decision to enter the agreements. The Tennessee Lookout is seeking comment from Lee’s office about whether the governor intends to sign the legislation.
Current ICE Partnerships in Tennessee
As of Thursday, 49 county sheriffs — just over half of all sheriffs in Tennessee — had entered into an agreement with ICE, according to a federal database. Separately, several Tennessee police departments and constables have also entered into the agreements.
Most Tennessee sheriffs that have entered these agreements have opted to partner with the federal government on “jail model” and “warrant model” 287(g) agreements. These partnerships allow deputies to verify immigration status of jail inmates or serve warrants provided by ICE.
Trump Administration Immigration Push
As part of its crackdown on illegal immigration, the Trump administration has encouraged local law enforcement nationwide to enter the voluntary agreements to serve as a “force-multiplier” in arresting and detaining individuals without legal status.
A separate “task force model” gives law enforcement officers additional authority to investigate immigration violations in the field. The federal government has offered $14 billion in incentives nationwide to encourage partnerships between local law enforcement and ICE.
Funding Requirements
Under the proposed legislation, Tennessee sheriffs who fail to comply with the 287(g) agreement requirement would face the loss of state funding. The bill specifically targets county sheriffs while exempting municipal police departments from the mandate.
The legislation represents an expansion of immigration enforcement cooperation in Tennessee, where nearly half of county sheriffs have not yet entered into federal partnerships. If enacted, Tennessee would join other states that have moved to require local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
