U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has approved Knox County's participation in the controversial 287(g) program.

The two bodies signed a memorandum of agreement earlier this month that dictates the Knox County Sheriff's Office's responsibilities in training and allowing a certain number of local deputies to be acting ICE agents. It makes Knox County the only jurisdiction in the state participating in this federal program.

What is 287(g)?

The program deputizes local law enforcement officials to act on behalf of and in place of federal immigration authorities in exchange for training and funding.

Once someone has been arrested on federal, state or local charges, ICE will flag the individual for removal and decide to request a detainer, or hold, on the person. The 287(g) program allows local law enforcement to decide who goes into deportation proceedings. A federal immigration judge ultimately decides who will be deported.

► Related:ACLU has 'deep concerns' about Knox County ICE application

► Editorial:Sheriff promises to deliver if ICE does

ICE places detainers on undocumented immigrants who have been arrested on local criminal charges and for whom ICE has probable cause to believe should be removed from the United States, according to an ICE spokesperson. The detainers are put in place so ICE can take custody of the individual when he or she is released from local custody.

Knox County Sheriff Jimmy "J.J." Jones recently announced he was withdrawing his candidacy for mayor. He is term limited as sheriff. His final day in office is Aug. 31, 2018.

Jones has said the program would be used to help reduce the county’s jail population and to save the county money by holding undocumented immigrant inmates for less time, but the county’s application stated the reason for joining ICE was to fight illegal immigration.

The application also estimates the 287(g) program will allow the county to process and turn in up to 1,800 immigrants who are living in the country illegally to ICE a year.

KCSO spokeswoman Martha Dooley said Jones would not speak to media Thursday but would "when he gets more details."

Jones signed the 19-page agreement with ICE, which details the county's responsibilities, on June 13.

The agreement expires June 30, 2019.

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett said Jones is in charge of his own department.

“The sheriff is an independently elected official whose duties are outlined in the Knox County Charter and the Tennessee Constitution, which means I do not have the authority to dictate how he fulfills those duties,” he said. “I support legal immigration and treating people with respect and in accordance with the law. We will enforce the law in Knox County."

Jesse Mayshark, spokesman for Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero, said the city will not seek the 287(g) program.

"The City of Knoxville has no plans to apply to the 287(g) program. One concern with local law enforcement agencies taking an immigration enforcement role is that it will lead to confusion and fear in the community and make it harder for our officers to do their jobs," he said in a written statement.

Immigrant advocates speak out

The program has garnered national attention for the number of undocumented immigrants ensnared for minor offenses such as driving without a license. The effect, critics say, separates families and furthers immigrant communities’ distrust of police.

Allies of Knoxville's Immigrant Neighbors released a statement Thursday morning listing what they call negatives of the 287(g) program.

It said: “287(g) is a voluntary program that enables local law enforcement to enforce some aspects of federal immigration law. Local governments assume the majority of costs associated with operating the program, including liability for civil rights violations. Nationwide, the controversial program has resulted in family separation, racial profiling, constitutional violations of due process, and a climate of fear between local police and communities.”

Stephanie Teatro, co-executive director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, also provided a statement, as follows:

"This is devastating news for all residents of Knox County; for immigrants who will be living in fear of their local law enforcement who are now tasked with deportations. All residents suffer when critical law enforcement resources are diverted to separating families and public safety is undermined by eroded trust between immigrants and law enforcement officers.

"We'll closely monitor Sheriff Jones and his deputies, defend the rights of residents, and ensure that this disastrous program is short-lived in Knox County."

How will it work?

Jones, in a May 2 interview with USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee, said people won’t be asked their immigration status on simple traffic stops.

The top five arrest charges for foreign-born criminals, according to the application, include offenses such as driving under the influence, driving without a valid license and public intoxication.

ICE rejected Knox County’s first request in 2013, saying in a letter to Jones that the agency had frozen expansion of the program because of the across-the-board federal budget cuts called for under sequestration.

Jones called the explanation a “smokescreen” and vowed to enforce federal immigration laws anyway.

“If need be,” he said in a statement at the time, “I will stack these violators like cordwood in the Knox County jail until the appropriate federal agency responds.”

Currently, there are 45 287(g) agreements across the country. Knox County is the only agreement in Tennessee. Metro Nashville was previously part of the 287(g) program, but left it in October 2012.

Other ICE program

A few days after Jones signed the agreement for the 287(g) program, Knox County became the first county in the state to participate in another ICE program that uses new biometric sharing technology to help federal officials identify illegal immigrants easier.

According to a news release on ICE's website dated June 17, with the Secure Communities program from ICE Knox County will now have the capability to check fingerprints of arrestees against the FBI's database and the Department of Homeland Security's database. The DHS database was not previously available.

According to the release, ICE will then evaluate each case to determine the individual's immigration status and take appropriate action. This includes immigrants who are in lawful status and those who are present without lawful authority.

Jones, in the release, said the Secure Communities program is a good example of federal and local officials working together.

"We applaud the efforts of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in working with us to remove dangerous criminals from within Knox County," Jones said in the release. "This is yet another example of local and federal agencies working together effectively to keep our communities safe."