Sheriff discusses ICE partnership during campus event

Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris was the guest speaker at the first “Take the Mic” event hosted by Tennessee Tech’s Turning Point chapter on Feb. 23.

Students — both high school and university — along with members of the public attended the event.

“The sheriff is the only law enforcement official who is elected,” Farris said. “The people are my boss.”

Farris, who was first elected in 2014, explained that the sheriff’s office is responsible for enforcing laws, managing the jail, serving warrants and keeping the citizens of Putnam County safe.

“Partnerships with various state and federal agencies help keep citizens safe,” he said.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office partners with several agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Marshals Service and the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

However, the partnership that has received the most attention is the 287(g) program with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Understanding the 287(g) program

There are three models within the 287(g) program.

The Jail Enforcement Model is designed to identify and process removable immigrants — with criminal or pending criminal charges — who are arrested by state or local law enforcement agencies.

The Task Force Model serves as a force multiplier for law enforcement agencies to enforce limited immigration authority, with ICE oversight, during routine police duties.

The Warrant Service Officer Program allows ICE to train, certify and authorize state and local law enforcement officers to serve and execute administrative warrants on individuals in their agency’s jail.

“When we signed on to the jail enforcement model, we were the third county in the state to participate,” Farris said.

As of Feb. 20, ICE had signed 1,427 memorandums of agreement for 287(g) programs covering 40 states.

That includes:

• 152 law enforcement agencies in 32 states participating in the jail enforcement model
• 809 law enforcement agencies in 35 states participating in the task force model
• 465 law enforcement agencies in 35 states participating in the warrant service officer model

Farris signed the Jail Enforcement Model memorandum of agreement in February 2025.

Since then, 231 individuals arrested and processed through the Putnam County Jail have had ICE detainers placed on them.

“We don’t go out and find these people unless we go through the warrant task force training,” Farris explained. “When they are arrested and come through the jail, they are fingerprinted and processed. Deputies who have been trained through this program can search the ICE database and see if someone processed in our jail is, in fact, in the country illegally.”

If an individual is found in the database, a detainer is placed and ICE officials will take custody of that person.

As for the task force model, the memorandum of agreement was signed in June 2025 but is not yet active because required training has not been completed.

“This is just another tool to help keep Putnam County safe,” Farris said.

According to the memorandum of agreement, the purpose of the collaboration is to enhance community safety by identifying and processing removable immigrants who have been arrested and booked into the local jail.

Selected law enforcement personnel may be nominated, trained and approved by ICE to perform limited immigration enforcement functions within the jail facility. The agreement does not limit the normal jurisdiction or authority of the sheriff’s office, but immigration enforcement authority may only be exercised as outlined in the agreement.

Nomination of personnel

The local law enforcement agency must screen and nominate candidates for ICE training. Candidates must:

• Be United States citizens
• Have the authority to enforce laws within their jurisdiction
• Be trained in maintaining the security of detention facilities
• Have authority over inmate accountability and conduct

ICE conducts background investigations and determines eligibility before personnel are authorized to perform duties under the agreement. Officers must also qualify for access to Department of Homeland Security and ICE databases.

Training requirements

Before performing immigration officer functions, personnel must complete specialized training provided by ICE covering administrative, legal and operational aspects of immigration enforcement.

Each trainee must pass an exam with a minimum score of 70 percent. Those who fail may retake a similar exam once after reviewing the material. Failing two exams results in disqualification from the program.

Refresher training may also be required, though not more frequently than every two years after the initial certification.

Certification and authorization

Officers who successfully complete training are certified under the agreement.

ICE provides written certification and an authorization letter allowing those officers to perform specific immigration enforcement duties. Certified personnel are also issued official ICE credentials, which must be carried while performing those functions.

ICE retains authority to revoke certification at any time.

Costs and responsibilities

ICE is responsible for installing and maintaining the information technology infrastructure needed for the program.

The local law enforcement agency is responsible for personnel costs, including salaries, benefits, transportation and equipment used in carrying out its mission.

ICE covers travel expenses associated with training, including transportation, housing and per diem.

Oversight and interpretation services

All immigration enforcement actions performed under the agreement must occur under ICE supervision.

Officers are also required to provide interpretation services for individuals with limited English proficiency when necessary, using qualified interpreters to ensure accurate communication.

To view the memorandum of agreement in full, visit:
https://www.ice.gov/identify-and-arrest/287g

Click the link for “287(g) participating agencies,” where agreements for participating departments are available.

Sidebar 1 — By the Numbers
287(g) Program Nationwide
• 1,427 MOAs signed
• 40 states participating
• 152 jail enforcement programs
• 809 task force programs
• 465 warrant service programs