Why South Carolina counties need to work closely with federal immigration officials | Opinion
President Donald Trump campaigned on a promise to deport violent illegal aliens, and South Carolinians overwhelmingly voted to support him. Now, South Carolina must demonstrate that support by backing a newly revamped 287(g) program, named for a section added to the Immigration and Nationality Act over 30 years ago. This program authorizes U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to delegate certain immigration enforcement functions to state and local law enforcement agencies under federal supervision.
Prior administrations gutted this program, making it unworkable. The Trump administration has fully reformed it, making it easier for local law enforcement to participate in a way that enhances community safety. In South Carolina, three counties — Horry, Lexington and York — do.
On Jan. 31, an ICE raid in Goose Creek led to the arrest of alleged Tren de Aragua gang members who were pushing fentanyl into our neighborhoods. That’s exactly the kind of threat the 287(g) program is designed to combat. Drug dealers, traffickers and violent offenders who slip across our borders and into our state will find no refuge in South Carolina.
Illegal immigration also strains South Carolina’s economic resources. Schools are overcrowded, roads are clogged, and taxpayers are footing the bill for uncompensated medical care. In rural counties, where every dollar counts, the 287(g) program offers relief by targeting those who break our laws and burden our systems.
Critics claim it’s too costly, but ICE provides training at no additional charge, and the program is designed to scale according to a law enforcement agency’s capability. A single deputy in a rural county can screen inmates with ICE’s support, so no new hires are needed. Compared to the millions lost to unchecked illegal populations, this is an investment we can’t afford not to make.
Scalability is key. President Trump’s agenda doesn’t demand a one-size-fits-all approach.
In larger counties like Greenville, the 287(g) program could allow for the deployment of multiple trained officers to process dozens of inmates. In smaller counties like Calhoun, a single sheriff’s deputy could coordinate with ICE using existing resources. The warrant service officer model even allows counties to focus solely on executing ICE warrants — a low-cost option for cash-strapped departments.
Some will argue that this sows fear or risks profiling. That’s nonsense. Officers receive weeks of training to enforce the law fairly, backed by ICE oversight. The real fear is what happens without the 287(g) program — fentanyl flooding Chesterfield, trafficking creeping into Edgefield.
South Carolinians deserve peace of mind, and this program delivers it.
President Trump has set the course: Secure the border and deport the lawbreakers. South Carolina can be his strongest ally, but only if we act. Three counties aren’t enough; all 46 is the goal. From the Lowcountry to the Upstate, the 287(g) program offers South Carolina safer communities while honoring the mandate voters gave us in the November 2024 general election.
I encourage every sheriff to join me in this fight. Together, we’ll show the nation what South Carolina can do.