Gov. Abbott signs bill requiring counties participate in federal immigration enforcement program

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Gov. Greg Abbott has signed Senate Bill 8 into law, mandating the majority of Texas sheriff's offices participate in a program that gives them federal immigration enforcement authority.

Under the 287(g) program – named for the section of government code that created it – law enforcement officers are trained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to identify and detain immigrants in the country illegally. The partnerships are meant to expand the reach of ICE and aid the federal government's immigration efforts.

Counties running jails or contracting with private vendors to operate jails will be required to seek 287(g) agreements.

Nationally, the number of law enforcement agencies participating in the program has skyrocketed since President Donald Trump began his second term this year. On June 23, federal data showed over 700 agreements across the country and nearly 60 more pending.

Florida previously passed its own law requiring certain agencies to participate in the 287(g) program, and it leads the country with 285 agreements. Texas has 100 agreements, the second most of any state, according to mid-June data from ICE.

There are three variants of the program:

• Jail Enforcement Model – allows officers to question people to determine immigration status, put their information into a Homeland Security database, take statements and begin the deportation process with an immigration detainer and notice to appear.
• Warrant Service Officer – a narrower scope than jail enforcement, with officers identifying people as non-citizens during the booking process, referring those people to ICE for evaluation and possible deportation, and serving ICE administrative warrants on people in their custody, according to the ACLU.
• Task Force Model – described by ICE as a “force multiplier,” allowing local officers to enforce immigration laws during their routine duties in the community.

The 287(g) program has drawn praise from Texas supporters of Trump’s immigration crackdown.

State senators Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, and Joan Huffman, R-Houston, authored the legislation.

Schwertner's office said the measure is needed to “strengthen efforts against illegal border crossings and the associated rise in crime” and “enhance Texas' ability to combat the public safety threat posed by criminal aliens,” according to his bill’s statement of intent.

The bill takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.

Civil liberty groups have opposed the program and Senate Bill 8, saying 287(g) partnerships promote racial profiling and cause immigrant communities to avoid and fear law enforcement, among other issues. Some sheriffs’ offices have raised concerns about the cost and strain on manpower the new law could have.

Senate Bill 8 provides financial assistance through a grant program for participating counties, with a tiered structure for funds:

• $80,000 for a county with a population under 100,000
• $100,000 for a county with a population between 100,000 and 500,000
• $120,000 for a county with a population between 500,000 and 1 million
• $140,000 for a county with a population over 1 million

Counties are not allowed to reduce their budget appropriations for sheriff's offices in response to getting the grants, according to the bill.