A new state grant program aimed at supporting county sheriffs who cooperate with federal immigration authorities is officially underway, Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced this week.
“Public safety starts with enforcing the law,” Hancock said during an announcement in Tarrant County alongside Sheriff Bill Waybourn and County Judge Tim O’Hare. “This program supports sheriffs as they work with immigration authorities to remove criminal offenders, maintain order and keep Texas communities safe” (Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts press release).
The Sheriff Immigration Law Enforcement Grant Program was created under Senate Bill 8, passed by the 89th Texas Legislature and effective Jan. 1.
The law directs the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts to administer grants for county sheriffs who have entered into immigration enforcement agreements — commonly known as 287(g) agreements — with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) (Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts press release).
According to comptroller records, at least 150 of Texas’ 254 counties currently meet eligibility requirements, with additional counties expected to qualify as new ICE agreements are finalized (Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts press release).
Grant funds may be used only for costs associated with participating in the 287(g) program that are not reimbursed by the federal government.
Eligible expenses include personnel compensation, administrative and reporting duties, equipment acquisition or replacement, required training, inmate confinement costs under the agreement, and other authorized uses (Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts press release).
Funding amounts are based on county population using the most recent federal decennial census data.
Under the program, sheriffs may receive up to $80,000 in counties with populations of 99,999 or fewer; $100,000 in counties with populations between 100,000 and 499,999; $120,000 in counties with populations between 500,000 and 999,999; and $140,000 in counties with populations of 1 million or more (Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts press release).
Applications opened Jan. 1, and the comptroller’s office has distributed application links directly to every county sheriff’s office in Texas.
Initial grant disbursements are scheduled to begin in March, with additional funds distributed on a rolling basis as qualified counties apply (Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts press release).
To apply, sheriffs must submit an application through the comptroller’s grants portal and include a resolution from the county commissioners court affirming that county funding for the sheriff’s office will not be reduced as a result of receiving the grant (Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts press release).
The grant program follows the implementation of Senate Bill 8, which requires sheriffs in counties that operate jails to formally cooperate with ICE through the federal 287(g) program. The law took effect Jan. 1 and mandates participation in one or more approved enforcement models, including the Jail Enforcement Model, Task Force Model or Warrant Service Officer program (Texas Legislature; prior reporting).
Bandera County Sheriff Josh Tietge previously confirmed his office would comply with the law, stating that the sheriff’s office would enter into an agreement with federal immigration officials and was working with program directors to determine the scope of participation that best serves public safety.
Tietge said the programs are state and federally funded and would not require additional local taxpayer dollars (Bandera County Sheriff’s Office statement; prior reporting).
Supporters of Senate Bill 8 argue the law strengthens public safety and improves coordination between local and federal authorities.
Critics, including civil rights organizations, have warned the measure could strain local resources and discourage crime reporting due to concerns about racial profiling (The Texas Tribune).
According to reporting by The Texas Tribune, some Texas sheriffs participated in the 287(g) program prior to the law’s passage, while others began applying after the mandate took effect (The Texas Tribune).
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