How Trump is turning a routine traffic stop into a weapon for deportation

The Trump administration is sharply increasing arrests of unauthorized immigrants by partnering with local police departments across the United States, a trend first reported by The Washington Post. The initiative has boosted the use of “287(g)” agreements — which deputize officers to enforce federal immigration law — from 135 accords in 16 states to over 700 across 40 states in just five months.

The arrests have affected people far beyond serious criminals. At least four immigrants stopped for routine traffic violations were later sent to a notorious mega prison in El Salvador, records obtained by The Washington Post showed. Among those detained were a teenager on the way to volleyball practice, a young father picking up baby formula, and construction workers going to jobs. Martínez, one of those arrested, had lived in the US for 25 years and had no violent convictions, only a few misdemeanor charges from over 20 years ago.

Expanded role of local police
Muzaffar Chishti of the Migration Policy Institute told The WaPo, “There are now legs and arms of ICE in so many places that did not exist before.” Under the 287(g) program, local officers can now enforce federal immigration laws during routine patrols, beyond working in jails or serving warrants.

The program originated in 1996 but gained momentum after the Sept. 11 attacks. Its expansion came under scrutiny when Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Arizona used it to justify racial profiling and unlawful arrests. The Obama administration ended such agreements, focusing enforcement within jails. Under Trump, these accords have been reintroduced, and more than 330 new partnerships have been signed across 30 states.

Several studies have found that these agreements don’t reduce crime and can foster discrimination. “I think the program imposes costs on American taxpayers without producing any outcome that’s worth it,” said Alex Nowrasteh of the Cato Institute. “Every dollar they spend going after a nonviolent person is a dollar that could have been spent going after real criminals.”

Cases highlight impact on families
Several recent arrests have sparked public concern. In Georgia, Ximena Arias Cristóbal, 19, was detained after a routine traffic stop despite having no violations. Body camera footage later confirmed she had been wrongly pulled over. In Louisiana, Miguel Rojas Mendoza, a Venezuelan TPS holder, was detained and transferred between facilities before being sent to a mega prison in El Salvador. His family only discovered where he was when a list circulated online.

In Tennessee, nearly 200 immigrants were arrested in a series of traffic stops conducted by state troopers and federal agents. According to ICE, 70 had no prior criminal record. “I had to walk in alone and tell them that he wasn’t coming back home tonight,” said Martínez’s wife, White, describing the moment she spoke with their three children. “Everybody started crying. They wanted to know what happened. Where was their daddy, what did he do wrong?”

Government defends approach
The growing role of local police in federal immigration enforcement has drawn criticism and legal challenges. Yet Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, defended the initiative. “Law enforcement targets someone not because of their skin color — but because they are illegal aliens,” she said.

With more states signing up for 287(g) agreements and new state immigration enforcement agencies being created, the trend is set to expand, making routine traffic stops a significant risk for unauthorized immigrants across the United States.