ICE unveils proposal for liability coverage for local officers involved in immigration arrests

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has drafted a plan to offer professional liability insurance of up to $500,000 to state and local officers who are trained and authorized to enforce federal immigration laws. The proposal would also provide a reimbursement of up to $250 per year toward the cost of the coverage. ICE said it may contract an external firm to manage outreach, training, the insurance vendor, and reimbursement processing, though no launch date has been set.

The agency hopes the incentive will encourage additional participation in its 287(g) partnerships, which already involve thousands of agencies across dozens of states. Critics have expressed concern that the measure could further insulate officers from civil liability for alleged rights violations.