‘Sheriffs are going to be emboldened’: GOP sheriffs eager to enforce Trump’s deportation policies.
Republican sheriffs are currently experiencing a surge in their political influence.
TroibNews 
President-elect Donald Trump has significant support from local law enforcement, particularly the nation's sheriffs, who are ready to aid him in his plans to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.
Republican sheriffs have long been viewed as vital partners for federal immigration authorities in tracking and removing individuals who enter the U.S. illegally. As Trump prepares for a second term, many of these sheriffs are gearing up to increase their involvement in arrests.
These sheriffs anticipate a broadening of a federal initiative that allows them to interview and detain suspected undocumented immigrants. They are also optimistic that Congress will allocate funding to enable more patrols focused on capturing migrants.
“Sheriffs are going to be emboldened,” said Thomas Hodgson, former sheriff of Bristol County, Massachusetts. “They’re going to realize that, ‘Hey, look, [Trump] is a guy who means what he says — us stepping in and taking charge, we’re going to get backed up and we’re going to be able to do what we took an oath to do.’”
“You’re going to see sheriffs very, very active in this immigration front,” Hodgson added.
As Trump’s inauguration approaches, many Republican sheriffs feel they hold more political influence than ever. The issue of immigration played a significant role in Trump's election, and the collaboration of sheriffs will be crucial for implementing an extensive and complex mass deportation strategy. Sheriffs are unique in law enforcement due to their elected positions, and many have embraced Trump’s tough-on-crime stance to enhance their political profiles.
Sheriffs “absolutely” feel empowered by the election results, according to Volusia County, Florida, Sheriff Michael Chitwood. “It may take away the guardrails. You may see sheriffs go in and start to do immigration checks. You may get to see something that we didn't do.”
However, the plan to utilize local law enforcement for deportation efforts is fraught with challenges. The United States immigration system is characterized by a tangle of conflicting state laws and local regulations, and some sheriffs actively refuse to work with ICE, believing that questioning immigration status can undermine public safety by discouraging cooperation with law enforcement.
Tensions are already evident between sanctuary cities and the incoming Trump administration, with some sheriffs caught in the crossfire. Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, has pledged to cut federal funding to cities that oppose mass deportation initiatives.
“Right now most sheriffs are on standby,” noted Megan Noland, executive director of the Major County Sheriffs Association. The organization represents sheriffs from counties with populations over 400,000 and will advocate against funding penalties for sheriffs in sanctuary cities.
“Taking away funding from any law enforcement agency is not going to result in better outcomes or better policing,” Noland stated.
Sheriffs in heavily Democratic California face particularly tough challenges. The state enacted a law in 2017 that restricts local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, and California Attorney General Rob Bonta indicated that law enforcement throughout the state will “fully comply.”
In San Diego, county supervisors went further, adopting a measure in December to prevent county resources from assisting federal immigration enforcement. Shortly after, Sheriff Kelly Martinez announced that she would not abide by the policy, arguing that the board lacked authority over her department. In her statement, Martinez confirmed she would continue sharing specific information with ICE as allowed by state law.
Immigration advocacy organizations are poised to contest Trump’s deportation strategies, particularly any alterations to the federal program intended to compel cooperation from local authorities, similar to actions taken during his initial term. Advocates argue that this program, known by its statute number 287, is prone to civil rights abuses and racial profiling. According to a 2022 report from the ACLU, program participants are encouraged to stop and detain individuals “on the pretext of traffic violations or other minor offenses — for the actual purpose of putting them in a pipeline to deportation and separation from their families.”
During the Trump administration, participation in the 287 program increased dramatically, upping the number of local agencies from 34 at the end of the Obama administration to over 140 partnerships with state and local law enforcement. Trump officials are preparing a series of immigration-related executive orders to be enacted on his first day in office, with an expansion of the 287 program likely on the agenda.
Immigration advocates express concern that Trump might shift the program's focus toward more street-level policing, beyond its current framework that primarily incentivizes sheriffs for detaining suspected undocumented immigrants in their jails, according to Naureen Shah, deputy director of government affairs at the ACLU and lead author of the report.
“The reason I think that is in the cards is the Trump administration wants to deport 20 million people,” she noted. “That’s impossible to do on their own. So really when they say mass deportation, a pillar of that is getting people to self-deport because it’s just uncomfortable to be here.”
Supporters of Trump among sheriffs include those in the “constitutional sheriffs” movement, a far-right faction that asserts sheriffs have the highest authority, even above state and federal officials. One leader, former sheriff Richard Mack of Graham County, Arizona, stated he has informed Trump and Homan of “our intention to help him and help the president with the deportation.”
Republican governors generally align with the Trump administration's immigration policies, with some preparing to send in the National Guard. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has called for a special legislative session to position the state for support of the incoming Trump administration on immigration issues.
“We have a responsibility to be in this fight,” DeSantis asserted during a recent press conference.
While Florida has already banned sanctuary cities, DeSantis aims to create new laws and allocate funding for local law enforcement to enforce immigration policies. He suggested that local officials could face suspension for “neglecting their duties” related to immigration, arguing that such crackdowns would enhance public safety, citing instances where illegal immigrants were arrested for looting after hurricanes hit the state last year.
“I have a lot of sheriffs out there that are chomping at the bit, they want to be able to help,” he added.
Will McCarthy, Nicole Norman, and Andrew Atterbury contributed to this report.
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
Republican sheriffs have long been viewed as vital partners for federal immigration authorities in tracking and removing individuals who enter the U.S. illegally. As Trump prepares for a second term, many of these sheriffs are gearing up to increase their involvement in arrests.
These sheriffs anticipate a broadening of a federal initiative that allows them to interview and detain suspected undocumented immigrants. They are also optimistic that Congress will allocate funding to enable more patrols focused on capturing migrants.
“Sheriffs are going to be emboldened,” said Thomas Hodgson, former sheriff of Bristol County, Massachusetts. “They’re going to realize that, ‘Hey, look, [Trump] is a guy who means what he says — us stepping in and taking charge, we’re going to get backed up and we’re going to be able to do what we took an oath to do.’”
“You’re going to see sheriffs very, very active in this immigration front,” Hodgson added.
As Trump’s inauguration approaches, many Republican sheriffs feel they hold more political influence than ever. The issue of immigration played a significant role in Trump's election, and the collaboration of sheriffs will be crucial for implementing an extensive and complex mass deportation strategy. Sheriffs are unique in law enforcement due to their elected positions, and many have embraced Trump’s tough-on-crime stance to enhance their political profiles.
Sheriffs “absolutely” feel empowered by the election results, according to Volusia County, Florida, Sheriff Michael Chitwood. “It may take away the guardrails. You may see sheriffs go in and start to do immigration checks. You may get to see something that we didn't do.”
However, the plan to utilize local law enforcement for deportation efforts is fraught with challenges. The United States immigration system is characterized by a tangle of conflicting state laws and local regulations, and some sheriffs actively refuse to work with ICE, believing that questioning immigration status can undermine public safety by discouraging cooperation with law enforcement.
Tensions are already evident between sanctuary cities and the incoming Trump administration, with some sheriffs caught in the crossfire. Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, has pledged to cut federal funding to cities that oppose mass deportation initiatives.
“Right now most sheriffs are on standby,” noted Megan Noland, executive director of the Major County Sheriffs Association. The organization represents sheriffs from counties with populations over 400,000 and will advocate against funding penalties for sheriffs in sanctuary cities.
“Taking away funding from any law enforcement agency is not going to result in better outcomes or better policing,” Noland stated.
Sheriffs in heavily Democratic California face particularly tough challenges. The state enacted a law in 2017 that restricts local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, and California Attorney General Rob Bonta indicated that law enforcement throughout the state will “fully comply.”
In San Diego, county supervisors went further, adopting a measure in December to prevent county resources from assisting federal immigration enforcement. Shortly after, Sheriff Kelly Martinez announced that she would not abide by the policy, arguing that the board lacked authority over her department. In her statement, Martinez confirmed she would continue sharing specific information with ICE as allowed by state law.
Immigration advocacy organizations are poised to contest Trump’s deportation strategies, particularly any alterations to the federal program intended to compel cooperation from local authorities, similar to actions taken during his initial term. Advocates argue that this program, known by its statute number 287, is prone to civil rights abuses and racial profiling. According to a 2022 report from the ACLU, program participants are encouraged to stop and detain individuals “on the pretext of traffic violations or other minor offenses — for the actual purpose of putting them in a pipeline to deportation and separation from their families.”
During the Trump administration, participation in the 287 program increased dramatically, upping the number of local agencies from 34 at the end of the Obama administration to over 140 partnerships with state and local law enforcement. Trump officials are preparing a series of immigration-related executive orders to be enacted on his first day in office, with an expansion of the 287 program likely on the agenda.
Immigration advocates express concern that Trump might shift the program's focus toward more street-level policing, beyond its current framework that primarily incentivizes sheriffs for detaining suspected undocumented immigrants in their jails, according to Naureen Shah, deputy director of government affairs at the ACLU and lead author of the report.
“The reason I think that is in the cards is the Trump administration wants to deport 20 million people,” she noted. “That’s impossible to do on their own. So really when they say mass deportation, a pillar of that is getting people to self-deport because it’s just uncomfortable to be here.”
Supporters of Trump among sheriffs include those in the “constitutional sheriffs” movement, a far-right faction that asserts sheriffs have the highest authority, even above state and federal officials. One leader, former sheriff Richard Mack of Graham County, Arizona, stated he has informed Trump and Homan of “our intention to help him and help the president with the deportation.”
Republican governors generally align with the Trump administration's immigration policies, with some preparing to send in the National Guard. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has called for a special legislative session to position the state for support of the incoming Trump administration on immigration issues.
“We have a responsibility to be in this fight,” DeSantis asserted during a recent press conference.
While Florida has already banned sanctuary cities, DeSantis aims to create new laws and allocate funding for local law enforcement to enforce immigration policies. He suggested that local officials could face suspension for “neglecting their duties” related to immigration, arguing that such crackdowns would enhance public safety, citing instances where illegal immigrants were arrested for looting after hurricanes hit the state last year.
“I have a lot of sheriffs out there that are chomping at the bit, they want to be able to help,” he added.
Will McCarthy, Nicole Norman, and Andrew Atterbury contributed to this report.
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
