While numerous Democrat-led states and cities having been working to limit Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations and collaborations with state and local law enforcement, states like Kentucky, Indiana, New Hampshire, and Tennessee are moving in the opposite direction to ensure smooth federal immigration enforcement.
As previously reported in Law Enforcement Today, there’s seemingly been no shortage of Democrat-run cities and states enacting means and methods to deter ICE enforcement operations, with even cities like Austin, Texas, not being immune to the social contagion of anti-ICE sentiments under the leadership of Democrat Mayor Kirk Watson.
However, some states are pivoting toward a more welcoming attitude regarding the federal agency, illustrating the topical contrast between the major political parties’ feelings toward immigration enforcement.
For instance, the state of Tennessee passed legislation back in 2025 which is actively providing grants to law enforcement agencies within the state who opt-int to collaborating with ICE. In the year since the aforementioned legislation was passed, collaborative agreements between law enforcement in the state and ICE has surged by nearly ten times, with now 56 agencies partnering with ICE under the 287(g) program.
Meanwhile, the state of Kentucky is reportedly eyeing down legislation that would compel state and local law enforcement to collaborate with ICE while prohibiting sanctuary policies. Tennessee is also considering making ICE collaboration mandatory alongside a legislative package that would prohibit illegal immigrants from obtaining various benefits and purchasing vehicles.
New Hampshire passed anti-sanctuary city legislation back in 2025, which the two bills in question went into effect at the onset of 2026, as previously reported here at Law Enforcement Today. Indiana is also reportedly headed toward mandated collaborations with ICE, as the state House passed a bill earlier in February compelling public schools, local governments, and colleges in Indiana to comply with ICE detainer requests, according to reports.
As previously reported in Law Enforcement Today, there’s seemingly been no shortage of Democrat-run cities and states enacting means and methods to deter ICE enforcement operations, with even cities like Austin, Texas, not being immune to the social contagion of anti-ICE sentiments under the leadership of Democrat Mayor Kirk Watson.
However, some states are pivoting toward a more welcoming attitude regarding the federal agency, illustrating the topical contrast between the major political parties’ feelings toward immigration enforcement.
For instance, the state of Tennessee passed legislation back in 2025 which is actively providing grants to law enforcement agencies within the state who opt-int to collaborating with ICE. In the year since the aforementioned legislation was passed, collaborative agreements between law enforcement in the state and ICE has surged by nearly ten times, with now 56 agencies partnering with ICE under the 287(g) program.
Meanwhile, the state of Kentucky is reportedly eyeing down legislation that would compel state and local law enforcement to collaborate with ICE while prohibiting sanctuary policies. Tennessee is also considering making ICE collaboration mandatory alongside a legislative package that would prohibit illegal immigrants from obtaining various benefits and purchasing vehicles.
New Hampshire passed anti-sanctuary city legislation back in 2025, which the two bills in question went into effect at the onset of 2026, as previously reported here at Law Enforcement Today. Indiana is also reportedly headed toward mandated collaborations with ICE, as the state House passed a bill earlier in February compelling public schools, local governments, and colleges in Indiana to comply with ICE detainer requests, according to reports.
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