By Yanei Honan | MediaLab@FAU
Sep 8, 2025
Protesters gathered on Florida Atlantic University’s campus on September 5 to demonstrate against the university police department’s enforcement of the 287(g) agreement with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The 287(g) agreement, which allows state and local law officers to effectively function as ICE, allows the FAU police department to detain students who officers suspect of being undocumented immigrants.
[Click here for our coverage on the recent anti-ICE protest at Florida Atlantic]
What, exactly, is a 287(g) agreement?
The name refers to section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows federal bodies to enter agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies in order for those agencies to carry out some of the tasks allotted to federal immigration officials, according to the American Immigration Council.
Through the 287(g) agreement, there are three different enforcement and removal operations. The FAU police department is following the Task Force Model, which means that, with ICE oversight, they can carry out some of the responsibilities delegated to immigration authorities during their routine police duties.
How many local and state agencies have joined the 287(g) program?
To date, there have been more than 950 agreements across 40 states that were signed between ICE and local and state agencies, according to ICE.
In addition to Florida Atlantic, there are eleven other campuses participating in the 287(g) program; FAU was one of the first universities to enter and begin enforcing an agreement with ICE.
When did FAU campus police adopt this agreement?
On February 19, Governor Ron DeSantis directed all police departments to enter into an additional agreement with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to carry out the same functions as ICE. In coordination with this new memorandum, Boca Raton Police Services Department started enforcing ICE tactics in March; the FAU PD followed suit, joining the 287(g) program in July. Further information about the Memoranda of Agreement can be found here.
Are 287(g) agreements legal? And does every local and state law enforcement agency have to join them?
The federal government’s delegation of these powers to local agencies is legal, according to govfacts.org. However, not all police departments are required to join the program. During a recent court case, Florida state officials acknowledged that municipalities are not legally mandated to enter 287(g) agreements.
If the law doesn’t require local or state agencies to enter 287(g) agreements, why are they doing so?
“Fear of being punished by the federal government,” says Craig Burnett, a Professor and Chair of Political Science at Florida Atlantic University.
Additionally, some police departments that join the 287(g) program are then eligible to receive federal funding. “Participation in the 287 (g) program is often associated with federal funding and performance bonuses, which may not be available to nonparticipating departments,” the Immigrant Legal Resource Center website states.
The Florida Atlantic University police department received federal funding from the government via the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which administers the funds.
“There are lots of carrots and sticks the federal government can use... in encouraging compliance,” says Burnett.
Are local and state law enforcement punished if they don’t join the 287(g) program?
Although Governor DeSantis stated that he directed all departments to join the 287 (g) program, there are currently no repercussions for not joining.