SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Four South Dakota law enforcement agencies continue to wait for training with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to start their immigration-enforcement duties under the 287(g) program.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) offers 287(g), which trains and certifies local officers to perform like ICE agents, with limitations and oversight depending on the agreement’s terms. This program is offered to law enforcement agencies across the country.

When asked about the training wait-time and number of participating agencies in 287(g), DHS sent the following statement to KELOLAND News on Wednesday:

“287g is critically important to our strategy of having the enforcement that we need to really address the criminal activities that we’ve seen out on the ground. It has been wonderful to see people jump in and be a part of it to make sure that we have not just the authorities that we need to go out there and to work, but also to have the local knowledge and the people in the community that really want to be a part of the solution. We are looking for more agreements like that across the country, and we will continue to build on it.”DHS official

The four South Dakota law enforcement agencies still waiting for their training are the following:

Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI): signed an agreement in May under the Task Force Model (TFM), intended for law enforcement officers on the field or on routine police duties to enforce limited immigration authority, with ICE oversight.

South Dakota Highway Patrol: signed an agreement in May under the TFM.

Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office: signed an agreement in March under the Warrant Service Officer Model (WSO), who can identify criminal immigrants and immigration violators who are already in custody.

Hughes County Sheriff’s Office: signed an agreement in March under the WSO.

South Dakota attorney general Marty Jackley told KELOLAND News that the training has been approved for the DCI, but it hasn’t begun. Only two DCI officers will receive training- one from East river and one from West river.

“I mean, certainly, with what you’ve seen the work done on the prison and some others, we just haven’t been able to accomplish that 40 hours of training yet,” Jackley said. “It’s coming, it’s certainly a priority.”

Officials with the South Dakota Highway Patrol told KELOLAND News that they’re working with DHS to complete the credentialing and training process. From the latest KELOLAND News report, five state patrol officers will serve as task force officers: two east river, two west river, and one central.

Captain Adam Zishka with the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office told KELOLAND News that the agency is in the officer selection process. Once officers are selected, then background checks are performed by ICE, according to Zishka, and training can begin afterwards. Zishka said he’s not sure how long the entire process would take.

Patrick Callahan, sheriff for the Hughes County Sheriff’s Office, told KELOLAND News that he knows he’s enrolled for upcoming training, but nothing else.

To learn more about the sheriff’s offices involvement, read the full article here.