ICE plan would cover up to $500,000 in liability for deputized local officers

Annual reimbursement would match expected insurance cost

A planning document published Friday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement proposes subsidizing personal liability insurance for state and local officers trained and deputized to enforce federal immigration laws. The Associated Press was first to report on the plan.

Under the proposal, officers would purchase insurance covering up to $500,000 in personal liability. ICE would then reimburse them up to $250 per year — roughly what the insurance is expected to cost. The coverage is intended to help shield local police officers who make immigration arrests from the possible financial consequences of being accused of on-duty misconduct.

Personal liability policies of this type typically fund legal fees, settlements and judgments arising from civil claims tied to an officer’s on-duty conduct.

ICE’s partnerships with local departments have grown sharply since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, according to AP reporting.

The insurance subsidy may help remove a financial hurdle that has made some local police departments reluctant to join those arrangements, according to AP.