Blackburn, Graham Introduce Bill to Expand Immigration Enforcement Partnerships - Articles

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Blackburn, Graham Introduce Bill to Expand Immigration Enforcement Partnerships

Posted by: Azya Thornton on May 1, 2026

U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, and Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, and chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, on Tuesday introduced the 287(g) Expansion Act to incentivize states and localities to enter into 287(g) agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to Clarksville Online. The program allows ICE to partner with state and local law enforcement agencies to identify and remove individuals in the country without legal status. The Tennessee Legislature recently passed a measure requiring county sheriffs to enter agreements under the 287(g) program. Blackburn said the legislation would strengthen immigration enforcement nationwide by offering participating states additional grant funding through the Byrne Memorial JAG Program, the primary federal funding source for state and local law enforcement.