Research Note Researched

Ohio — 0 to 20 287(g) agreements in one year, fastest expansion in Midwest

Overview

Ohio went from zero 287(g) agreements at the start of Trump’s second term (January 2025) to twenty 287(g) agreements signed by sixteen local police agencies by March 27, 2026. This is one of the fastest 287(g) expansions documented nationally, paralleling South Carolina (3 to 37) and Utah (0 to 11). The ACLU of Ohio documented this explosion in a March 2026 report, finding that ICE agreements with Ohio counties have grown 600% since 2025.

Key Details

Before 2025: Zero 287(g) agreements in Ohio
End of 2025: 12 unique 287(g) agreements
March 27, 2026: 20 agreements, 16 agencies
First three (May 2025): Butler, Seneca, and Portage counties
Agreement types:
- Jail Enforcement Model: Deputies identify removable aliens in county jail
- Task Force Model: Deputies participate in ICE-led field operations
- Butler County holds both — the most aggressive arrangement
Counties with 287(g): Butler, Seneca, Portage, Mahoning, Geauga, Delaware, plus CCNO (Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Williams), and others
Financial incentive: If every jail bed in contracted Ohio facilities were filled, the financial gain would exceed $54 million total
AG opinion (Aug 2025): Ohio AG Dave Yost ruled county commissioners may enter ICE agreements on behalf of the sheriff, though the sheriff lacks independent contracting authority — sheriffs have proceeded anyway
IGSA expansion: Detention sites expanded from 2 (Geauga, Seneca) to 6 by end of 2025 (added Butler, Mahoning, NEOCC, CCNO)
Detention capacity: 670 immigrants detained in Ohio facilities (as of early 2026)

Pattern Match

This mirrors the nationwide pattern: states go from zero or minimal 287(g) agreements to double digits within months once the first agreements are signed. The bounty system economics (per-diem payments to counties) and political signaling create a cascade effect. Ohio’s trajectory matches SC and UT almost exactly.

Sources

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