Big Sky Times

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has announced a new agreement with the Trump Administration's Department of Homeland Security (DHS) aimed at enhancing immigration enforcement in the state. This agreement will empower Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) troopers and Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) agents to arrest individuals residing illegally in Montana and collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for their deportation.

Attorney General Knudsen expressed his support for President Trump's immigration policies, stating, "President Trump’s commitment to cracking down on illegal immigration and securing our nation’s southern border is unmatched. On the contrary, over the last four years, Joe Biden’s open border policies made every state a border state. Just recently, we saw firsthand in Montana the negative impact of Biden’s policies as six Venezuelan gang members were arrested in Gallatin County." He added that this agreement would enable MHP and DCI to work closely with federal immigration officials to combat illegal immigration and enhance safety for Montana families.

Under this arrangement, following training by ICE, selected MHP troopers and DCI agents will gain authority to enforce specific immigration laws. These include interrogating and arresting individuals residing illegally, serving and executing warrants related to immigration violations, and issuing detainers.

The agreement falls under section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This provision allows the Secretary of Homeland Security "to enter into written agreements with a State or any political subdivision of a State so that qualified officers and employees can perform certain functions of an immigration officer."