Missouri Police Quietly Sign ICE Deals as DHS Ties “Performance Awards” to Arrests

Missouri agencies are signing up for ICE training that can turn local officers into a frontline tool for immigration enforcement, and the incentives attached are fueling a fast-moving fight.

The tension is simple: supporters call it a public-safety partnership, while advocates warn it reshapes everyday policing into a “show me your papers” pipeline that changes how communities interact with local law enforcement.

First Alert 4 (KMOV) reports multiple Missouri agencies are entering 287(g) agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with the federal government offering equipment, vehicles, and reimbursement of salary and benefits for officers trained by ICE.

A DHS announcement also describes quarterly “monetary performance awards” based on the “successful location of illegal aliens” and other assistance to ICE’s mission, language critics say pressures officers to prioritize immigration work.

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In Missouri, the shift is not theoretical: the state Department of Public Safety says Gov. Mike Kehoe, DPS leadership, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol signed an agreement with ICE on March 12, 2025, directing troopers to undergo immigration enforcement training and support ICE operations.

But how these partnerships play out on the street is the unresolved question, because local agencies can use different 287(g) models and the public often learns details only after agreements are signed.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the partnerships are a critical resource to “arrest criminal illegal aliens across the country” and make the U.S. safer.

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Advocates counter that expanding local participation can chill crime reporting and increase civil-rights risk, while proponents argue it helps identify people already in contact with the justice system.

Next signals to watch in Missouri are which agencies sign new agreements, which model they adopt, and whether local leaders publish data on stops, detainers, and complaints connected to ICE-trained activity.

For now, the debate is accelerating as money, training, and enforcement authority converge in Missouri policing.

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