In League With ICE: Rensselaer County's 287(g) Agreement

In 2018 the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office became the only law enforcement agency in the state to enter into the federal government’s 287(g) program, which deputizes local officers to do the work of ICE agents. The 287(g) program, which is entirely voluntary, was created to put local officers under the supervision of ICE. Officers are required to follow ICE’s directions and enforcement priorities. Turning local officers into ICE agents undermines public safety, diverts resources, enables ICE cruelty, and undermines public health. The time has come for Rensselaer County to restore trust in local law enforcement and end its 287(g) agreement.