DOJ Launches ANGEL Grants for Local Immigration Enforcement
The Justice Department launched the ANGEL Grant Program in September 2026, directing federal funds to local and tribal police to arrest and detain undocumented immigrants with criminal records. The program explicitly targets jurisdictions that have resisted immigration enforcement — and it means local officers, not just ICE, may now be funded to pursue deportation cases. For immigrants with any prior contact with law enforcement, the risk landscape just shifted.
The Justice Department announced a new federal grant program in September 2026 that will pay local and tribal law enforcement agencies to arrest, detain, and prosecute undocumented immigrants who have been charged with or convicted of crimes. The program is called the ANGEL Grant Program — short for "Assisting Neighborhoods and Governments with Enforcement of Laws."
What the money can pay for
Local police departments that receive ANGEL grants can use the funds for a specific list of activities. That includes locating and arresting undocumented immigrants with criminal records, collecting intelligence on gang activity, investigating drug and human trafficking crimes, running court operations related to those prosecutions, and temporarily detaining immigrants. Agencies can also use the money for vehicle maintenance and transportation costs tied to those arrests.
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Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. said the program is aimed at jurisdictions whose states have not supported local immigration enforcement — a direct reference to so-called sanctuary policies. The grants are authorized under the BIDEN Reimbursement Fund, established by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Public Law 119-21, and are available to state agencies, local governments, and tribal governments. Eligible agencies must participate in Homeland Security Task Force activities or other DOJ efforts targeting gangs, cartels, and violent crime.
For immigrants living in the US, this program means more local police departments — not just federal ICE agents — may be actively looking to arrest people who are undocumented and have any criminal record, including minor local offenses. A prior arrest or conviction, even for a misdemeanor, could put someone at higher risk of being targeted under operations funded by these grants.
What to do
- If you are undocumented and have any prior arrest or criminal record — even a minor one — speak with an immigration lawyer now. A past charge can affect your risk under programs like this.
- Know your rights during any police stop: you have the right to remain silent and the right to refuse a search without a warrant. You do not have to answer questions about your immigration status.
- If you are in removal proceedings (immigration court), make sure your attorney knows about any law enforcement contact you have had, including traffic stops or arrests that did not lead to a conviction.
- Check whether your city or county has a sanctuary policy — these policies limit how much local police cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, and they may affect how grants like ANGEL are used in your area.
Related: our step-by-step guide — “Immigration Court Rulings”.
Fishkin Law Firm, New York
Any criminal record — including an arrest that did not lead to a conviction — can make an undocumented person a priority target under grant-funded enforcement operations like ANGEL. If local police in your area participate in a Homeland Security Task Force, they now have a financial incentive to refer cases to immigration authorities. Anyone with prior law enforcement contact should request a full review of their immigration options, including any available relief in removal proceedings, before an arrest happens rather than after. Consult a licensed immigration attorney to assess your specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the ANGEL program affect immigrants who have never been arrested?
Based on the DOJ announcement, the grants are specifically for locating and arresting undocumented immigrants who have committed a crime under federal, state, or local law. If you have no criminal record, you are not the stated target of this program — but ICE enforcement continues separately regardless of these grants.
Can local police now act like ICE agents because of this program?
The ANGEL grants fund local police to participate in Homeland Security Task Force operations alongside federal agencies. Local officers still act under their own legal authority, but the grants give them resources — vehicles, staff, court costs — to pursue immigration-related arrests more actively.
What counts as a 'crime' that puts me at risk under this program?
The DOJ language covers any crime under federal, state, or local law. That is a broad definition and can include misdemeanors and local ordinance violations, not just felonies. An immigration lawyer can review your specific record and tell you how it may be used against you.
Does this program apply in sanctuary cities?
The program is specifically designed to fund agencies in places where state or local governments have not supported immigration enforcement — meaning sanctuary policies are a target, not a shield. Whether a local department applies for and accepts these grants is up to that department. Check with a local immigrant rights organization to find out your city's current policy.