At the direction of Gov. Brian P. Kemp, state Department of Public Safety (DPS) Commissioner Billy Hitchens has requested U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) train all 1,100 sworn officers under his command through the 287(g) Program to better assist in identifying and apprehending illegal aliens.
First authorized by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, this program enables ICE to delegate to state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform specified immigration officer functions under the agency’s direction and oversight. On the day of his 2025 inauguration, President Donald Trump also issued an Executive Order entitled Protecting the American People Against Invasion which requires ICE to utilize this program in partnership with state and local law enforcement.
“If you are in our country illegally and committing crimes, you have no place in Georgia,” Kemp said Monday.
At his direction, the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) also already participates in the 287(g) program through the Jail Enforcement Model. This ongoing agreement with ICE and the state was renewed in 2019 and again in 2020.
Just last week, ICE contacted the GDC requesting two additional corrections officers to assist in deportation of illegal, criminal aliens as part of the program. The Department currently has a sergeant and three corrections officers assigned to these continuous measures.
(Pictured: Recent ICE arrest in Habersham County.)