News Summary
Sheriff P.J. Tanner is seeking to reestablish the 287(g) task force agreement with ICE, causing apprehension among community members regarding its impact on local immigrants. The Beaufort County Detention Center has a history of honoring ICE holds, raising questions about the relationship between law enforcement and immigrant populations. With a public meeting scheduled, residents voice concerns over potential trust erosion and racial profiling linked to the program’s reinstatement.
Beaufort, South Carolina – Sheriff P.J. Tanner is taking steps to reestablish a 287(g) task force agreement with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a move that has raised concerns among community members regarding its potential implications for local immigrant populations. If reinstated, the agreement would enable at least one deputy from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office to directly participate in immigration enforcement efforts, aligning Beaufort County with nearly 20 other counties in South Carolina already engaged in the program.
The Beaufort County Detention Center has been performing ICE Holds, which are requests to detain individuals for immigration enforcement, since 2012. Although legally limited to 48 hours, the detention center has been known to honor nearly all ICE requests. In May 2025, for instance, 14 individuals were placed under ICE holds, and six were subsequently transferred to ICE custody. The process of identifying non-U.S. citizens begins when individuals are booked and fingerprinted, which can trigger a request to ICE to verify their immigration status.
Once the necessary documentation is received for a local charge release, the detention center has a two-hour window to free the individual unless a detainer is requested within that time frame. The detention center maintains oversight of the ICE hold process through a logbook, which records pertinent details such as the inmate’s name and each step’s timing. However, after an individual is transferred to ICE custody, the detention center does not receive further updates regarding that person’s status or location.
On January 28, 2025, Chief Deputy Michael Hatfield reached out to ICE to seek guidance on reestablishing the 287(g) partnership. Following that, on June 26, Sheriff Tanner submitted a formal letter expressing interest in the 287(g) program to an ICE field office. However, as of now, Tanner’s office is not listed as a pending agency for participation in the program.
The 287(g) program, one of three frameworks allowing local law enforcement to collaborate with ICE, has seen significant expansion under the Trump administration. While some local law enforcement agencies embrace the program, community response in Beaufort County has expressed considerable opposition. During a recent public meeting, approximately 150 members attended in person, while nearly 1,000 participated online. Many attendees included immigration attorneys and advocates who raised concerns about the potential erosion of trust between local law enforcement and immigrant communities, as well as the risks of racial profiling associated with such partnerships.
Despite the concerns voiced by community members, sheriff officials maintained that the police department does not engage in deportation actions and emphasized that the decision to participate in the program rests solely with Sheriff Tanner. The previous implementation of the 287(g) program in Beaufort County, extended from 2008 to 2012, saw an uptick in the number of ICE holds issued during that time.
In response to continued community concerns, a second public meeting with Sheriff Tanner is scheduled for July 22, 2025, at the Bluffton branch public library. This meeting aims to facilitate further discussion regarding the sheriff’s potential involvement with ICE and to address questions and concerns from residents about the implications of reinstating the 287(g) program.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Concerns Over Immigration Policy in Hilton Head Island
Community Opposition to 287(g) Program in Beaufort County
Community Outcry in Beaufort Over Immigration Program
Local Activists Defend Right to Protest in Beaufort
Community Outrage Over Sheriff Tanner’s Immigration Proposal
Community Concerns Rise Over 287(g) Immigration Proposal
Beaufort Sheriff Hosts Public Meeting on Immigration Concerns
Community Protests Against Trump Administration Policies
Additional Resources
- Island Packet: Sheriff Tanner’s 287(g) Plans
- Wikipedia: 287(g) Program
- Island Packet: Immigration Enforcement Concerns
- Google Search: Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office ICE
- Island Packet: ICE Holds in Beaufort
- Google Scholar: 287(g) Program
- Island Packet: Community Meeting on ICE
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Immigration Enforcement
- Island Packet: Sheriff Tanner’s Public Meeting
- Google News: Beaufort 287(g) Program
Author: STAFF HERE BEAUFORT
The HERE Beaufort Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Beaufort community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background: Local Roots in Beaufort : Our team includes lifelong Beaufort residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent sale of the historic Crofts Block Building, Beaufort’s equestrian heritage, and growth in local tech and education sectors (e.g., BeaufortTechnical College programs). Collective Experience: With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Beaufort Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality: Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
