The Trump administration has issued a memo requesting the aid of state and local governments in enforcing federal immigration law due to what it describes as a 'mass influx' of migrants at the US-Mexico border. The memo grants state and local law enforcement officers the authority to carry out immigration enforcement under certain circumstances, as authorized by the Homeland Security secretary.
While the specifics of how this collaboration will be implemented remain unclear, it may involve the need for agreements and training between federal and local authorities.
The memo, signed by acting DHS Secretary Benjamine Huffman, cites the recent surge in migrants arriving at the southern border as a reason for the urgent federal response. Despite a decrease in border encounters, Huffman argues that the number of arrivals is still considered too high.
In an effort to bolster immigration enforcement, the administration has been focusing on expanding the law enforcement presence to support President Trump's immigration policies. This includes deploying additional troops to the US southern border, even though there has been a decline in border crossings.
While state and local law enforcement have previously collaborated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement through programs like 287G, the recent memo extends the request for assistance to law enforcement agencies nationwide. The order is initially set to last for 60 days but may be extended based on the evolving situation.
