Texas Attorney General Orders Dallas County to Establish Agreement with ICE Under Senate Bill 8
The Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, issued a letter to Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown, stating that Dallas County must establish a formal agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as required by Senate Bill 8. This legislation mandates that every county sheriff with a jail must enter into a 287(g) agreement with federal immigration authorities to carry out immigration enforcement functions. Dallas County has been urged to initiate negotiations with ICE by June 1, 2026, to comply with the law.
Attorney General Paxton emphasized that the decision to seek an agreement with ICE is not within Sheriff Brown's discretion, as the Texas Legislature has established a mandatory statewide policy of cooperation between county sheriffs and federal immigration authorities. Paxton accused Brown of publicly stating her reluctance to pursue an agreement with ICE and failing to inform the state about any efforts to negotiate such an agreement.
In addition to Dallas County, other large Texas counties, including Harris, Bexar, and El Paso, have also been pressured by Paxton to enter into agreements with ICE. Governor Greg Abbott previously threatened to withhold public safety grants and funding related to the FIFA World Cup from Dallas if the city did not revise its cooperation agreements with the Department of Homeland Security and ICE. Dallas is currently working to comply with Abbott's demands.
In conclusion, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has directed Dallas County to establish a formal agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in accordance with Senate Bill 8. The county sheriff has been instructed to initiate negotiations with ICE by June 1, 2026, to ensure compliance with the state law mandating cooperation between county sheriffs and federal immigration authorities.