Mississippi Auditor partners with ICE in Immigration Enforcement Agreement

JACKSON, Miss. – State Auditor Shad White announced Tuesday that the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor (OSA) has entered into a formal partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the federal 287(g) program, allowing state investigators to assist with immigration enforcement when needed.

The agreement enables OSA agents to receive ICE training and authorization to perform limited immigration enforcement duties while continuing their primary role of investigating misuse of taxpayer dollars. Two OSA agents have already volunteered for the program and will serve as cross-trained personnel available to ICE in emergency situations.

“ICE agents and the Trump administration are working hard to stop illegal immigration, and they need every law enforcement officer willing to assist in their corner,” White said. “Two agents from my office volunteered to be trained in immigration law enforcement and to assist ICE whenever they are short-handed in this area, and we are grateful for the chance to serve in this way.”

The nationwide 287(g) program allows state and local law enforcement agencies to partner with ICE by providing training and access to federal immigration resources. White emphasized that the initiative aligns with OSA’s broader responsibility to protect taxpayer funds, pointing to an OSA report that estimated illegal immigration costs Mississippi around $100 million annually in education, healthcare, and criminal justice expenses.

“If we can do anything to stop this by helping ICE, we will do it,” White said, while encouraging other Mississippi law enforcement agencies to consider joining the program.