Graham, Blackburn Propose Grants To Expand Local ICE Cooperation
Senators Lindsey Graham and Marsha Blackburn introduced a bill on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 that would offer federal grants to states that partner with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The proposal specifically aims at Democratic-led, or "blue", states and would make local policing choices a condition for federal funds. The measure frames payment as a tool to increase cooperation with ICE on information sharing and detainers.
The episode traces back to long-running clashes over sanctuary policies in cities and states that limit cooperation with federal immigration agents. Republican lawmakers have increasingly tied funding and legal pressure to cooperation as immigration has grown into a central 2026 campaign issue.
By linking money to enforcement, the bill sets up a partisan fight in Congress and with state governments over federal authority, public-safety priorities, and the politicization of grant programs. The debate is likely to intensify as lawmakers and governors weigh enforcement goals against local control.
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📌 Key Facts
- On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, Sens. Lindsey Graham and Marsha Blackburn detailed plans for a 287(g) Expansion Act to incentivize ICE cooperation.
- The bill would reserve $20 million per year through 2033 to enhance Byrne Memorial JAG grants for jurisdictions that sign 287(g) agreements.
- The measure targets jurisdictions in 17 sanctuary states that currently lack 287(g) pacts, while noting that at least one jurisdiction in 39 states already participates in the program.
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