ICE puts forward insurance plan to protect local officers making immigration arrests

Kanishka Singh for Reuters reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has put forward an insurance plan that could protect local police officers who make immigration arrests from potential financial consequences if they are accused of misconduct.

ICE proposed to help pay for liability insurance for local police trained and deputized to enforce federal immigration laws, a proposal document said. According to the plan, officers could obtain professional liability insurance covering up to $500,000, which can cover legal fees, settlements and judgments. Officers would be reimbursed up to $250 annually for the cost of the insurance.

Cato Institute Director of Immigration Studies David Bier voiced concern about the plan. "The concern here is that ICE is going above and beyond to guarantee law enforcement does not have even the slightest risk of liability for violating Americans' rights while helping ICE arrest people," Bier said in a statement on X.