A memorandum of agreement, published online, outlines the partnership.
CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. โ As Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues to ramp up its enforcement actions across the country, one Charlotte-area agency confirms it is partnering with the federal group.
Chester County Sheriff Max Dorsey confirmed to WCNC Charlotte that his deputies are working with ICE in a task force that has not yet launched. Dorsey said deputies are not yet trained in immigration enforcement, but the training and task force would begin soon.
Dorsey also said the Chester County Sheriff’s Office is the only department in the Charlotte metro taking this on. He declined to discuss details in an on-camera interview.
The memorandum of agreement between the sheriff’s office and ICE was shared online, and it shows it was signed in March of 2025. The agreement falls under ICE’s 287(g) program, which is part of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). According to ICE, this allows them to delegate the authority to state and local law enforcement agencies the authority to perform specified immigration officer functions under ICE’s direction and oversight.ย
Both North Carolina and South Carolina are shown on a map as having a least one active 287(g) agreement in place, while six states restrict such agreements by state law or policy. The states of Vermont, Rhode Island, Delaware, and Hawaii don’t have active or pending agreements, but a map shared by ICE indicates it is pursuing opportunities in those states.
Under the memorandum, the Chester County Sheriff’s Office would have to nominate the deputies for ICE training and approval, and then have them complete training.
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