The federal program — dubbed the "Task Force Model" — would provide training for officers, who could then act on behalf and under the oversight of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.
Rep. TJ Roberts said the program would not take away from officers' regular duties.
"It provides the ability for law enforcement officers to be deputized for limited immigration enforcement," the Republican said. "This is not independent raids. This is in they pull someone over for, suppose, a DUI, they are called for any other type of case, that they are then able, upon reasonable suspicion, to investigate whether or not the individuals are here legally."
What we are seeing in multiple places and cities is that individuals are literally being kidnapped off the streets by individuals who are not showing identification, not in properly marked vehicles, not providing warrants.Kentucky Rep. Sarah Stalker
Currently, 10 Kentucky counties have signed on of their own accord. Four states have taken statewide action to implement the program.
In response, Rep. Sarah Stalker raised red flags about the immigration enforcement tactics employed by the Trump administration.
"What we are seeing in multiple places and cities is that individuals are literally being kidnapped off the streets by individuals who are not showing identification, not in properly marked vehicles, not providing warrants," she said. "So I have a lot of concern about deputizing individuals to take on a new jurisdiction."
The program would require the purchase of a new police cruiser at participating departments, but would then deliver $7,500 for every officer deputized per year up to ten officers.