{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/4/crime/immigration/blackburn-graham-introduce-legislation-to-strengthen-immigration-enforcement-by-incentivizing-states-to-work-with-ice", "Blackburn, Graham Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Immigration Enforcement by Incentivizing States to Work with ICE", "2026-04-28", "2026", "2026-04", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Linsdey Graham (R-S.C.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget, introduced the 287(g) Expansion Act to incentivize states and localities to enter into 287(g) agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE\u2019s 287(g) program enhances the safety and security of our nation\u2019s communities by allowing ICE to partner with state and local law enforcement agencies to identify and remove criminal aliens. The Tennessee legislature recently passed a bill requiring county sheriffs to enter agreements under the 287(g) program.\n\n\u201cState and local law enforcement should be doing everything in their power to partner with the federal government to enforce the rule of law in our communities following the Biden Border Crisis,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cThe 287(g) Expansion Act would strengthen immigration enforcement nationwide by offering states that agree to work with ICE more grant funding through the Byrne Memorial JAG Program, which is the primary federal grant funding stream for state and local law enforcement.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo more excuses! When it comes to combating illegal immigration, local law enforcement has the legal authority and, if they choose, the means to go after criminal illegals in their communities. Our bill expands that opportunity. The 287(g) program is a longstanding partnership between federal and local law enforcement to combat illegal immigration. After four years of Biden\u2019s open borders, it\u2019s crucial that we expand this program to remove more dangerous illegal aliens,\u201d said Senator Graham. \u201cWhile sanctuary states and cities obstruct ICE, this legislation rewards law enforcement agencies who work with the federal government to keep our communities safe. By expanding the 287(g) program, we are moving forward \u2013 not backward \u2013 with rational immigration policies.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 added Section 287(g) to the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize ICE to delegate state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform specified immigration officer functions under ICE\u2019s direction and oversight.\n\nThe program contains four models: jail enforcement, task force, tribal task force, and warrant service officer programs, extending access of federal immigration enforcement resources and training to state and local agencies.\n\nAs of April 2026, 39 states and 49 Tennessee counties have at least one agency participating in one or more of the 287(g) programs, but the prevalence of sanctuary cities and jurisdictions\u2014including 17 states and the District of Columbia\u2014undermine the success of the 287(g) program.\n\n287(g) EXPANSION ACT\n\nThe 287(g) Expansion Act would permit states or counties to apply for an increase in Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program funding once they have signed a 287(g) memorandum of understanding or agreement.\n\nUnder this legislation, the U.S. Attorney General would be required to increase the amount of Byrne JAG grant funding by up to 10% of the average total amount of funding provided to that state or locality under the three most recent awards.\n\nClick here for bill text.\n\nRELATED\n\nBlackburn Introduces Bills to Empower Local Law Enforcement to Help Deport Criminal Illegal Aliens & Reinstate \u201cRemain in Mexico\u201d Policy", 1, "2026-04-29T06:03:53Z", "2026-04-29T06:05:09Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/4/crime/immigration/blackburn-graham-introduce-legislation-to-strengthen-immigration-enforcement-by-incentivizing-states-to-work-with-ice"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.6066651549190283, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}