The National Reporting Certification Aid (NRCA) was established as a certification and compliance assurance program to support counties across the United States that have implemented programs, legislation, or policies aligned with the federal 287(g) Program. The NRCA’s mission is to help counties meet and maintain compliance with applicable state mandates through structured monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting and certification reviews.

The 287(g) Program, authorized under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, enables U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to partner with state and local law enforcement agencies. Through this partnership, designated officers receive federal training to perform limited immigration enforcement functions, primarily within local detention facilities. These responsibilities include identifying, processing, and detaining non-citizens who may be subject to removal proceedings. While the program enhances state–federal cooperation, it also carries heightened compliance, reporting, and civil rights considerations for participating jurisdictions.

In response to 287(g) participation, numerous states have enacted laws requiring state and local law enforcement agencies to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. These statutes often mandate immigration status verification for certain individuals in custody, adherence to ICE detainers, and the publication of quarterly or annual reports detailing foreign-born inmate populations. Many of these laws impose penalties for noncompliance, including sanctions against officials and the potential loss of state or state-administered federal funding for counties found to be in violation.

Common statutory requirements include immigration status checks for individuals arrested for qualifying or serious offenses, honoring ICE detainers for a minimum of 48 hours when legally applicable, and strict adherence to reporting and transparency obligations, with formal reporting requirements beginning at the end of 2024.

The NRCA provides counties with a structured, defensible framework to manage these obligations. Through certification standards, ongoing compliance monitoring, and reporting support, the NRCA helps local governments reduce legal and financial risk, preserve critical funding streams, and demonstrate accountability to state authorities and the communities they serve.

States currently operating under significant state-level immigration cooperation requirements include:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia.

The NRCA remains committed to promoting clarity, consistency, and accountability for counties navigating complex immigration reporting and certification requirements nationwide.