The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office has launched a new partnership with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through a program that enables local officials to work with the federal government.
As part of ICE’s Section 287(g) Task Force program, state, county, and municipal law enforcement departments will be emboldened to aid in their federal counterparts’ efforts to:
- Identify illegal immigrants
- Lodge immigration detainers
- Initiate removal proceedings by issuing charging documents on potentially deportable criminal aliens booked into the jail facility
Since taking office once again in January, Republican President Donald Trump has consistently noted that one of his top priorities is to locate and deport those living unlawfully in the U.S. State officials are hopeful this partnership will yield positive results, such as removing drug traffickers and gang members from Mississippi communities.
“I am proud to stand alongside President Trump and take decisive action to protect our country and uphold the rule of law,” Attorney General Lynn Fitch said. “This partnership will not only ensure that we protect our communities but also strengthen our efforts to combat human trafficking, drug cartels, and violent crime. Together, we will make Mississippi- and our entire nation- safer than ever before.”
The attorney general’s office is the only agency in Mississippi currently participating in the program by training and certifying all of its sworn law enforcement officers as members of the 287(g) Task Force. ICE officials will be present at the third annual Mississippi Public Safety Summit this May to explain the program and encourage other law enforcement agencies to participate.
