Sheriff James Albert’s agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Westmoreland County supposedly does not include reimbursement, according to his letter “Agreements vs. contracts for sheriff’s department” (May 1, TribLive).
However, under President Trump’s new DHS program, local law enforcement officers entering into a 287(g) Agreement with ICE can receive monetary reimbursement in two ways:
• ICE fully reimburses participating agencies for the annual salary and benefits of each eligible trained 287(g) officer, including overtime coverage up to 25% of the officer’s annual salary.
• Quarterly performance awards. Officers/agencies can earn monetary bonuses based on performance metrics such as the number of undocumented immigrants located and assisted in arrests:
• 90%-100% performance — $1,000 per eligible task force officer
• 80%-89% performance — $750 per eligible task force officer
• 70%-79% performance — $500 per eligible task force officer
Reimbursements are part of a broader expansion of 287(g) partnerships, allowing state/local law enforcement to perform certain immigration enforcement functions alongside ICE. The program is funded under the 2026 federal budget, designed to incentivize participation by covering costs and offering direct cash rewards
In short, local law enforcement officers signing a 287(g) agreement with ICE can receive full salary/benefit reimbursements plus potential quarterly cash bonuses based on performance (quotas).
This puts county residents at risk of detention even when they are citizens. If money is involved, it is all tax dollars. We deserve to know the full terms of this “secret agreement.”
Elizabeth Veronica Weaver
Hempfield