287(G) Programme
US law allowing local police to enforce federal immigration; active in Dallas, Houston and Miami for the World Cup.
Last refreshed: 15 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
With Dallas and Houston police deputised as immigration enforcers, can fans in those cities rely on local police for help?
- What is the 287(g) programme?
- Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act allows the Department of Homeland Security to authorise local police to enforce federal immigration law, including detaining people for immigration violations.
- Which World Cup cities have 287(g) agreements with ICE?
- Dallas, Houston and Miami have active 287(g) agreements, according to Amnesty International's March 2026 report. This means local police in those cities can enforce federal immigration law during the World Cup.Source: Amnesty International 'Humanity Must Win', March 2026
- Can local police in World Cup host cities arrest fans for immigration violations?
- In Dallas, Houston and Miami — which hold 287(g) agreements — local police have been deputised to enforce federal immigration law. In other US host cities without such agreements, immigration enforcement remains a federal function.Source: Amnesty International, March 2026
Background
The 287(g) programme is the legal instrument through which several US World Cup host cities have authorised local police to enforce federal immigration law. Three host cities — Dallas, Houston and Miami — hold active 287(g) agreements, according to Amnesty International's 'Humanity Must Win' report published 31 March 2026. This creates an extended ICE enforcement footprint in those cities during the tournament period.
Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, first enacted in 1996, authorises the US Department of Homeland Security to deputise state and local law enforcement officers to perform federal immigration enforcement functions. Participating agencies may detain individuals based on immigration status during routine law enforcement activities. The programme expanded significantly under the Trump administration.
The 287(g) agreements in World Cup host cities make the ICE presence question materially different from a simple 'will ICE attend matches' debate. Local police in affected cities can enforce immigration law independently during the tournament, meaning the enforcement risk extends beyond federal agency presence at specific venues to routine police interactions anywhere in the host-city region.