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Emigration and immigration

Texas House Approves Bill Requiring Sheriffs to Collaborate with ICE

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Texas House gave initial approval to Senate Bill 8, a legislation that would require sheriffs to collaborate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement by serving federal immigration warrants at local jails. The bill, sponsored by GOP state Rep. David Spiller, received a preliminary approval with an 89-50 vote in the lower chamber after an amendment was made to apply to all counties, rather than just those with populations over 100,000. The bill aims to strengthen border security, according to Spiller, but immigrants' rights advocates argue it would lead to racial profiling and prompt fear among undocumented Texans.

Key Takeaways:

  • Senate Bill 8 received preliminary approval with an 89-50 vote in the lower chamber of the Texas House.
  • The bill, sponsored by GOP state Rep. David Spiller, requires sheriffs to collaborate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement by serving federal immigration warrants at local jails.
  • 72 Texas law enforcement agencies had signed 287(g) agreements with ICE as of Friday, with four sheriff's offices having pending agreements.
  • Roughly 20% of the agreements in place between Texas law enforcement agencies and ICE were for the "task force model," which extends immigration authorities to officers performing routine police duties.
  • The legislation could help the Trump administration's mass deportation plans, but immigrants' rights advocates say it would lead to racial profiling and prompt fear among undocumented Texans who may be reluctant to report a crime or seek help from authorities who are collaborating with ICE.
  • The bill applies to all counties in Texas, rather than just those with populations over 100,000, as previously proposed.

Statistics:

  • 89: The number of votes in favor of Senate Bill 8 in the Texas House.
  • 50: The number of votes against Senate Bill 8 in the Texas House.
  • 72: The number of Texas law enforcement agencies that had signed 287(g) agreements with ICE as of Friday.
  • 4: The number of sheriff's offices with pending agreements with ICE.
  • 20%: The percentage of agreements in place between Texas law enforcement agencies and ICE that are for the "task force model".

Sources:

  • FOX 7
  • The Texas Tribune
  • ICE (Data published by ICE)

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