ICE Expands 287(g) Arrests in Tennessee: What It Means
ICE now has 120 law enforcement partners in Tennessee operating under the 287(g) program, and those agencies have made more than 1,300 arrests since January 2025. A new state law requires every Tennessee sheriff's office to join the program by January 1, 2027 — or lose state funding. For immigrants in Tennessee, contact with any local law enforcement now carries a direct risk of ICE detention and removal proceedings.
ICE has 120 active 287(g) law enforcement partners in Tennessee as of September 9, 2026 — up from 94 in July. Nationwide, ICE has signed 2,466 memoranda of agreement with state and local agencies under this program. Since January 20, 2025, those Tennessee partners have made more than 1,300 arrests and had 542 encounters with non-citizens held in local jails.
What the 287(g) program does
The 287(g) program — named after a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act — lets local sheriffs and police departments act as immigration enforcement agents. Participating agencies can screen people in local jails for immigration status, serve federal warrants, and transfer individuals directly to ICE custody. Tennessee passed a state law earlier this year requiring all sheriffs' offices to enter a 287(g) agreement by January 1, 2027. Agencies that do not comply risk losing certain state funding.
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The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office became an operational 287(g) partner last month. On its first day, it arrested a Honduran national with two felony sexual battery convictions in Franklin, Tennessee. That person has since been removed from the United States. ICE officials attended the Tennessee Sheriffs' Association Conference to recruit more agencies into the program.
What this means if you have any contact with local police
Under 287(g), a routine traffic stop, a domestic call, or any arrest — even for a minor offense — can trigger an immigration check if you are held in a local jail. You do not have to be convicted of anything. Being booked into a participating county jail is enough for your immigration status to be reviewed and for ICE to place a detainer on you, which can start removal proceedings.
What to do
- If you are arrested and held in any Tennessee county jail, ask immediately whether that facility is a 287(g) partner. You have the right to remain silent about your immigration status and the right to speak with an attorney before answering questions.
- If ICE places a detainer on you (a written request to hold you for up to 48 hours after your criminal case ends), contact an immigration lawyer right away. You have 30 days to appeal a removal order after it is issued.
- If you receive a notice to appear in immigration court, do not miss that hearing. Missing it can result in an automatic removal order issued in your absence.
- If you want to delay removal while your case is pending, an attorney can help you file a Form I-246 (a request for a stay of deportation), which currently carries a filing fee of $155.
Related: our step-by-step guide — “Your Rights During an ICE Encounter”.
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Under 287(g), a detainer is not a criminal charge — it is a civil immigration hold, and you have the right to challenge it in immigration court. If ICE issues a detainer after a local arrest, an attorney can file a bond motion or request a stay of deportation using Form I-246 while your case is reviewed. Anyone in Tennessee with an unresolved immigration issue — a visa overstay, a prior order of removal, or a pending application — should consult an immigration attorney now, before any encounter with local law enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a local Tennessee sheriff arrest me for immigration violations?
Under the 287(g) program, yes. Participating agencies are authorized to screen people in local jails for immigration status and transfer them to ICE custody. This happens after a local arrest — not on the street — but the immigration consequences can follow even a minor charge.
What is an ICE detainer and what should I do if I get one?
A detainer is a written request from ICE asking a local jail to hold you for up to 48 extra hours after your criminal case ends, so ICE can take custody. Contact an immigration attorney immediately. You may be able to challenge the detainer or request a bond hearing in immigration court.
Does Tennessee's new 287(g) law affect immigrants across the whole state?
It will. Tennessee passed a law requiring all sheriffs' offices to enter a 287(g) agreement by January 1, 2027. Agencies that do not comply risk losing state funding. That means nearly every county jail in Tennessee will eventually be able to screen and transfer people to ICE.
If I am placed in removal proceedings, how long do I have to respond?
You have 30 days to appeal a removal order after it is issued. If you want to request more time to leave voluntarily, the maximum voluntary departure period is 120 days. Missing your immigration court hearing can result in an automatic removal order, so never skip a scheduled hearing.