Will the GRPD and Grand Rapids officials take advantage of President Trump’s financial incentives to work with ICE?

Recently the Trump Administration has provided some financial incentives to local police departments around the country to entice them to adopt what is called the 287(g) program, where ICE deputizes local cops to enforcement immigration laws.

The Trump Administration announced:

“Starting October 1, 2025, participating law enforcement will have these reimbursement opportunities,” DHS said in a press release posted today. “ICE will fully reimburse participating agencies for the annual salary and benefits of each eligible trained 287(g) officer, including overtime coverage up to 25% of the officer’s annual salary.”

This offer could certainly be enticing to police departments that are wanting to generate more money for their people, like the Grand Rapids Police Department that is always lobbying for adding more cops. 

The announcement also stated: 

“Law enforcement agencies will be eligible for quarterly monetary performance awards based on the successful location of illegal aliens provided by ICE and overall assistance to further ICE’s mission to Defend the Homeland:

• 90% – 100% – $1,000 per eligible task force officer
• 80% – 89% – $750 per eligible task force officer
• 70% – 79% – $500 per eligible task force officer.”

A question to ask ourselves is would the Grand Rapids Police Department and/or the Kent County Sheriff’s Department consider taking these incentives? Since the beginning of the year Movimiento Cosecha and GR Rapid Response to ICE has been working on a campaign to get the City and the County to adopt several sanctuary policies, which includes, “Policies prohibiting “287(g)” agreements through which ICE deputizes local law enforcement officers to enforce federal immigration law.” 

To date, both Grand Rapids and Kent County have rejected the demands from Cosecha and GR Rapid Response to ICE regarding sanctuary policies, so it stands to reason that they might consider the financial incentives being offered by the Trump Administration. When Cosecha and GR Rapid Response to ICE disrupted a City Commission meeting in late July, the City’s response to was to threaten people with arrest if they did not stop chanting “ ICE and Cops go hand in hand.” 

People need to keep the pressure on with Grand Rapids and Kent County officials until they adopt the sanctuary policies laid out by Movimiento Cosecha. In fact, this coming Saturday, September 13, from 1 – 3pm, Cosecha and GR Rapid Response to ICE are holding a People’s Assembly to talk about new tactics and strategies for getting the City and County to adopt sanctuary policies. For details on the People’s Assembly, go here.