Marietta Officially Joins 287(g) Immigration Cooperation Program

ATLANTA, Georgia — The Marietta Police Department has confirmed signing a 287(g) cooperation agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to an announcement released on Friday.

The agreement was signed in late December 2025, as required by Georgia state law, and officially takes effect on January 7, 2026. This is a "Task Force" model agreement because the City of Marietta does not operate its own detention facility.

The Marietta Police Department stated that without signing this agreement, the city could risk losing state and federal funding.

How Does the 287(g) Program Work?

According to ICE, Section 287(g) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act allows the federal agency to authorize state and local law enforcement agencies to perform certain immigration functions, under the direct guidance and supervision of ICE.

Currently, ICE operates two main models within the 287(g) program:

  • Jail Enforcement Model (JEM): Applied in detention facilities to identify and process individuals who may be deportable and are in custody on criminal charges.
  • Warrant Service Officer (WSO): Allows for the training and authorization of local officers to execute administrative warrants for individuals in custody.

Since it does not operate a detention facility, the Marietta Police Department stated that the "Task Force" model is the only suitable option for the agency.

Marietta Police Department Commits to Unchanged Community Service Mission

In an official statement, the Marietta Police Department emphasized several key points regarding the implementation of the agreement:

  • Only one current officer is assigned to roles related to the 287(g) program.
  • There are no plans to recruit additional personnel for this duty.
  • The assigned officer will continue to perform patrol duties and serve the community as before.
  • The agency does not work "directly" with ICE in a permanent capacity.
  • The Police Department's mission to serve and protect the community remains unchanged.

Notably, the Marietta Police Department confirmed that no immigration arrests have been made since the agreement officially took effect.

No Additional Costs Incurred by the City Yet

According to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), the Marietta Police Department is permitted to request reimbursement from ICE for costs incurred related to program enforcement. However, the agency stated that it has not requested any reimbursement to date, as the agreement has not yet created additional costs for the city's budget.

Nearly 50 Agencies in Georgia Have Joined the 287(g) Program

According to ICE data, nearly 50 law enforcement agencies across the state of Georgia have signed 287(g) cooperation agreements. Among them, eight agencies became effective this year, indicating a growing trend of expanded cooperation between local police forces and federal immigration agencies in the state.