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Residents raise alarm over Statesboro’s 287(g) agreement; police chief says deputization not yet in effect
Summary
Public commenters criticized Statesboro’s February 287(g) agreement with ICE; Police Chief Dan Broadhead said the city signed to comply with state law, three officers were assigned to training but none have completed deputization, and the agreement’s practical status may change as personnel depart.
Several residents used the June 2 public‑comment period to criticize the city’s signing of an ICE 287(g) agreement and to question whether local policing would be involved in immigration enforcement. Eddie, civic and advocacy coordinator for Migrant Equity Southeast (speaker 1), told the council the agreement—signed Feb. 26—has been legally contested elsewhere and raises risks of racial profiling.
Police Chief Dan Broadhead (speaker 15) responded at the council’s request and described the city’s legal and operational posture: he said the state law required local jurisdictions to notify ICE when requested and that the city followed guidance from the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police. Chief Broadhead said ICE reached out earlier this year asking the department to join the task‑force model under 287(g), which deputizes local officers to take federal immigration actions once they have completed federal training.
Chief Broadhead said the city assigned three officers, including himself, to take the required 40‑hour training to be deputized under 287(g). "To this date, none of our officers, including me, have completed that training," he said, adding that because he is nearing retirement the operational status of the agreement could change when staffing does. He also said legal staff advised the city about compliance and that the agreement was executed to follow state law.
Speakers in the audience urged more public discussion of the agreement and questioned whether options exist to limit local participation. Chief Broadhead said the city’s legal counsel and staff have engaged with ICE and that operational deputization requires individual officer training and credentialing, which has not yet occurred.
What’s next: Chief Broadhead said he had notified ICE about his pending retirement and that the department will update council if deputization or staffing choices change; residents requesting further information were directed to follow up with council and staff.
