287(g) in Tennessee

287(g) refers to the section of the Immigration and Naturalization Act that deputizes local law enforcement as immigration agents. Under this agreement, local law enforcement officers are allowed to detain and question individuals and screen them to determine their immigration status. People who are undocumented are then jailed for transfer to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and deported.

While the program was developed with the stated goal of addressing “immigration violators who pose a threat to national security or public safety,” it has, in practice, had very different outcomes. The vast majority of the people detained and processed through the 287(g) program were stopped for non-violent misdemeanors such as loitering or driving or fishing without a license. In addition, valuable law enforcement resources are being diverted from regular law enforcement duties to carry out these traditionally federal immigration responsibilities. Furthermore, the program creates distrust in the community and encourages racial and ethnic profiling.

In Tennessee, the Davidson County Sheriff's Office and the Tennessee Highway Patrol have 287(g) agreements with ICE.

RESOURCES

287(g) Questions Answered

287(g) Power Point Presentation

Know Your Rights: Immigration, Local Law Enforcement and 287(g) / Conozca Sus Derechos: Inmigración, la Policía y 287(g)

Side-by-Side Comparison of Old and New Davidson County 287(g) Memoranda