350 Texas agencies partner with ICE as new governor takes office

Three hundred fifty Texas law enforcement agencies have entered into task force partnerships with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement since President Donald Trump took office in 2025.

The agreements, known as 287(g) programs, allow local police to act as federal immigration officers. This expansion followed the Trump administration's restart of the program, which had been paused under previous leadership. The initiative was bolstered by funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill and a 2025 state law that offered financial incentives for participation.

Partners include the Texas Attorney General’s Office, the Texas National Guard, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. The DPS had approximately 5,000 commissioned officers as of last year. Its criminal investigations and highway patrol divisions hold specific task force agreements with ICE. According to memorandums of agreement, the DPS director, Freeman Martin, can terminate these partnerships at any time.

Gina Hinojosa, a Rio Grande Valley native, is preparing to become the first Hispanic governor of Texas. Advocacy groups in the Rio Grande Valley, including La Unión del Pueblo Entero, are urging her to scale back Operation Lone Star and end 287(g) enforcement. Dani Marrero Hi, LUPE’s deputy director, stated that Hinojosa has the power to make these changes. She noted that the mayor of Houston issued an executive order to limit police collaboration with ICE, and Austin is taking similar action.

Hinojosa may allow the disaster declarations supporting Operation Lone Star to lapse, as they require regular renewal. She will also face decisions regarding the Public Safety Commission, which oversees DPS. All current members are appointees of former Gov. Greg Abbott with at least a year remaining on their terms. Randy Erben, a former Abbott legislative director and professor at the University of Texas at Austin, said the board would likely comply with the new governor's requests to stop specific enforcement activities.

The state legislature also passed Senate Bill 8 last summer, requiring most Texas sheriffs to apply for 287(g) agreements. The law allows the attorney general to sue non-compliant sheriffs starting in December. The incoming Texas attorney general, Democrat Nathan Johnson, did not respond to a request for comment. Sarah Eckhardt, the incoming comptroller who administers the SB 8 grant program, also did not respond to comment requests. LUPE plans to meet with state officials before the legislative session begins in January.

Hinojosa’s campaign did not make the governor-elect available for an interview. The DPS did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Other large counties without signed agreements include Harris, Dallas, and Travis. Advocacy group Mano Amiga recently advised the Hays County sheriff, who has signed no agreement, to delay signing, citing the likely lack of enforcement action by the new administration.