TERRELL COUNTY, Texas \u2014 For decades, enforcing immigration laws has been the federal government\u2019s responsibility. But soon, most Texas sheriff\u2019s offices will be required to help.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s part of a new state law<\/a> that will force counties that run or contract out operations of a jail to participate in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) program called 287(g)<\/a>, named for a section in the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.<\/p>\n But right now, only about a third of Texas counties are signed on.<\/p>\n The program allows them to delegate some immigration duties all the way down to local officers.<\/p>\n According to the agency, the program “enhances the safety and security of our nation\u2019s communities by allowing ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) to partner with state and local law enforcement agencies to identify and remove criminal aliens who are amenable to removal from the U.S.”<\/p>\n We went through federal documents to show you which counties are \u2014 and are not \u2014 on board.<\/p>\n The program lets law enforcement agencies take part in immigration enforcement, using one of three models.<\/p>\n On the border, where sheriffs are arguably more likely to encounter undocumented migrants, Terrell is one of only two counties with a 287(g) agreement.<\/p>\n We toured an abandoned ranch along Highway 90 in Terrell County with Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland. He says it’s an example of why these agreements are important.<\/p>\n \u201cWalk around this way,\u201d Cleveland said, leading us around the side of a house to a small opening in the wall. It led to a short compartment underneath the home.<\/p>\n It’s full of camouflage backpacks, stashed by groups of people smuggled into the U.S., stashed there as migrants finish one journey and start another.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019d been using this area for quite a while,\u201d Cleveland says. \u201cNo telling how many hundreds, if not thousands of people came through this area to get picked up on the highway.”<\/p>\n Cleveland says discoveries like this are part of the reason why Terrell County was quick to join the 287(g) program through Immigration and Customs Enforcement.<\/p>\n \u201cI see it as an extra tool in the toolbelt,\u201d Cleveland said.<\/p>\n Terrell County is signed up for all three models, but Cleveland says the jail enforcement model will likely be the easiest option for counties to sign up for.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will allow us to identify them and then either turn them over to Border Patrol or ICE when they\u2019ve served their time,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Clint McDonald leads the Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition. He gave us more insight into why so few border counties are currently participating.<\/p>\n \u201cThey don\u2019t have to put the man-hours into 287(g). They can just call them and they\u2019ll be at their jail anytime they need them,\u201d McDonald said, of ICE and ERO agents.<\/p>\n McDonald says that just because counties aren\u2019t signed up doesn\u2019t mean they aren\u2019t working with ICE. Many simply lack the manpower to send deputies to training and then remove them from patrol to work with ICE.<\/p>\n But some of the required trainings have moved online, meaning deputies don’t have to travel to learn those processes.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve made it a lot easier for the counties. And so with that, I think you\u2019ll see more counties getting involved,\u201d McDonald said.<\/p>\n Especially because most counties will have to participate.<\/p>\n \u201cThe state of Texas has passed a bill that will require all sheriff\u2019s offices in the state of Texas to work with ICE under that agreement,\u201d Cleveland said, explaining that agencies will still be able to choose which of the three models to use.<\/p>\n The bill signed by Gov. Abbott requires sheriffs who run a jail or contract out jai operations to enter a 287(g) agreement, which applies to 234 of the state\u2019s 254 counties, according to a bill author.<\/p>\n Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar says his office will follow the law, but the district attorney\u2019s office is looking into what that will mean locally.<\/p>\n \u201cThe warrant service officer model seems to be the one that I would prefer if given the choice between those three,\u201d Salazar said.<\/p>\n He noted that it requires shorter online training and would allow deputies to remain in the community.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s actually not much different than what\u2019s already occurring and what\u2019s been occurring,\u201d Salazar said.<\/p>\n Opponents of the new law worry it will increase racial profiling, stretch departments too thin, or create liability for taxpayers. Supporters argue it will help local agencies assist federal immigration enforcement.<\/p>\n The Texas law requiring some sheriff\u2019s offices to participate in the ICE program goes into effect in January.<\/p>\n It also comes with some financial assistance for counties, depending on their population size.<\/p>\n\n
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