October 15, 2026 Regular Board of Aldermen Meeting
ICE discussion begins at 47:25
Meeting Agendas: https://osagebeach-mo.gov/Archive.aspx?AMID=92
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. — The Osage Beach Police Department could soon be working with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to enforce federal immigration law within the city.
At the Osage Beach Board of Aldermen meeting on Thursday, Oct. 15, Police Chief Todd Davis told the board the department had been approached by DHS to join with a national program called the 287(g) task force program. Davis noted approximately 95 agencies within Missouri already participate in the program, including Camdenton PD, Linn Creek PD, Camden County Sheriff’s Office, and Laclede County Sheriff’s Office.
Davis explained, “We would select certain officers with our department that would be deputized to perform narrow and specific federal immigration officer duties under the direct operation of ICE supervision… we wouldn't be going out conducting sweeping and random raids to all of our businesses or anything like that.. our authority would be when we were during lawful routine police encounters that we would do if we're going to domestics, traffic stops, theft cases, or anything like that.”
He added the program would “allow us to check federal databases, conduct interviews, log enforcement data directly into federal case management system, stuff like that.”
The program carries a significant benefit to the City. He said the federal government would pay for the training of those deputized officers. He also said there is $100,000 available “possibly right up front for vehicles and equipment because if we would have to take somebody into custody on a detainer or anything, we would have to transport to Green County.”
The City could also receive $7,500 for each officer who was trained, for additional equipment. And there could be salary and benefits reimbursements to the City as well.
Davis acknowledged participation in the program might be unpopular among some.
“Some of the community may be upset about us participating in this because they feel that we're singling out, you know, the different ethnic backgrounds or… cultures,” he said.
Mayor Ross added that the program has been in place since the late-90s but had never been funded very well. “It’s been recently funded very well, apparently,” he said.
In reality, the program was passed by Congress and enacted into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996. It was expanded by President George W. Bush with a focus on counterterrorism after 9/11; then President Barack Obama shut the task force component of the program down, amid concerns about racial profiling. It was rebooted by President Trump in 2025.
Mayor Ross explained, “Today, if someone's pulled over as a traffic stop for some reason, and we have some indication that they aren't legally in the United States, we don't have any authority to do anything… We just have to let them go… And this just gives us the ability to call ICE and get them involved.”
During discussion, the aldermen had varying opinions.
Alderman Justin Hoffman mentioned a family member who works for DHS and said he doesn’t want to be the kind of city that doesn’t work with the federal government, in this regard.
Alderman Bob O’Steen voiced his concerns:
“I obviously have a much different perspective than anybody else sitting on this dais because I do have a diverse ethnic background… I have spent my entire life at this lake being one of the few brown people in this community. So, obviously when you talk about ICE, you talk about Homeland Security, it's hard for me to separate my personal opinion versus what's best for this community… I am open to hearing more discussions regarding this.
“But I feel like it's a Pandora's box… that I'm scared to basically even crack that open when we get into those aspects based on the national pulse about ICE, about immigration, etc.
“But once again, that is me personally because I have a different perspective because I have been subject to persecution and racism because of the color of my skin.”
However, O’Steen added, “I’m not going to outright rule this out. I would just like to see more firmer parameters, uh, on how this would work for us.”
Most of the other aldermen spoke to the issue, some voicing outright support and others asking clarifying questions or raising concerns.
Davis said he would check with the City’s insurance carrier and attorney and bring the issue back to the board for a vote at a later date.
