- Three Northern Kentucky Republican lawmakers are co-sponsoring House Bill 47, which would require local and state law enforcement agencies to enter 287(g) Task Force Model agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
- The bill would authorize trained state and local officers to carry out limited federal immigration enforcement duties under ICE oversight during routine policing activities.
- Supporters say the legislation would enhance public safety and coordination with federal authorities, while expanding ICE partnerships already in place in parts of Kentucky.
Three Republican Northern Kentucky legislators have co-sponsored a bill that would require local and state law enforcement agencies to enter into agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to participate in the “Task Force Model Program.”
Reps. T.J. Roberts (R-66), Kim Banta (R-63), and Marianne Proctor (R-60) were among 19 state representatives who co-sponsored House Bill 47, introduced in the Kentucky House of Representatives on Jan. 13.
Under the legislation, the Kentucky State Police and statewide local law enforcement agencies would be required to enter into written agreements with ICE under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996’s Section 287(g) ‘Task Force Model’ program.
Roberts first presented the legislative proposal at the Kentucky General Assembly’s Interim Joint Committee on Local Government in November.
According to ICE’s website, the Task Force Model program allows ICE to delegate certain immigration enforcement responsibilities to state and local law enforcement. The Task Force Model authorizes officers from these agencies to conduct specified immigration enforcement activities under ICE oversight while performing their routine street policing duties.
A PDF published on ICE’s website states that after agreements are established–and officers complete the program’s mandatory training–state and local law enforcement officers would be deputized to identify and process individuals with active or pending criminal charges, enforce specific immigration laws under ICE oversight, and serve administrative warrants on detainees in local jails.
“Under 287(g), our officers will be trained and authorized to identify, process, and detain criminal illegal aliens encountered during routine duties, ensuring swift removal of threats to our communities,” Roberts said in a campaign announcement. “This proven federal program enhances public safety, deters illegal immigration, and supports our brave men and women in blue.”
As of Nov. 20, the Kentucky Lantern reported that 16 law enforcement agencies in Kentucky have 287(g) agreements with ICE, including the Kenton County Sheriff’s Office. Each of these agreements was signed in 2025.
To read more about the legislation on the Kentucky General Assembly’s website, click here.