Event Announcement: Trump's Sheriffs: 287(g) and New Frontlines of Immigration Enforcement with author Jessica Pishko

Register now to join Jessica Pishko, author of "The Highest Law in the Land: How the Unchecked Power of Sheriffs Threatens Democracy," and me on Tuesday at 2:00 pm ET for this urgent conversation.

The office of the county sheriff is one of the most powerful—and least understood—in American law enforcement. With deep roots tracing back to the colonial era, sheriffs today play a central role in modern immigration enforcement, particularly under the controversial 287(g) program that allows local law enforcement to act as de facto ICE agents.

This Tuesday at 2:00 PM Eastern, I’ll be joined by journalist and author Jessica Pishko for a virtual conversation about how sheriffs became key players in Trump’s immigration crackdown—and what that means for democracy today.

You are invited to join us and participate in the conversation.

Jessica quite literally wrote the book on this topic. Her recent work, The Highest Law in the Land: How the Unchecked Power of Sheriffs Threatens Democracy, is a timely and urgent investigation into how sheriffs—locally elected and often unaccountable—have become a flashpoint in the politics of white supremacy, rural resentment, and federal overreach.

This discussion will focus on the sheriff’s evolving role under the Trump administration, with a special emphasis on the 287(g) agreements that deputize sheriffs to enforce federal immigration laws. Under Trump, many sheriffs embraced the role of immigration enforcers and defenders of "law and order"—but often without oversight and accountability.

Whether you’re a journalist, researcher, or simply curious about the intersection of immigration, policing, and power in America, you won’t want to miss this. (Be sure to use the link below rather than the one initially sent out in the email; I had to change it. Sorry!)

All are welcome, regardless of your perspective. We aim to foster curiosity, compassion, and understanding—not division.

About Jessica Pishko. Jessica is a journalist and lawyer with a JD from Harvard Law School and an MFA from Columbia University. She has reported on the criminal legal system for over a decade, with a special focus on the political power of sheriffs since 2016. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Politico, Rolling Stone, The Atlantic, The Appeal, Slate, and Democracy Docket. She writes about sheriffs on Substack below.

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