Ice aims to forge a collaboration with Denton city officials on a joint operation with local police.
Texas Cities Consider Immigration Enforcement Partnerships Amidst Budget Concerns
In a move that has sparked both support and controversy, Keller, Texas, has officially joined the federal 287(g) program, becoming the largest city in the state to participate. The Keller City Council voted unanimously to join this program last week, authorizing jail staff to screen arrestees for immigration status and serve ICE warrants, but not allowing officers to make arrests based on immigration status alone in the community.
Under the jail enforcement model agreement, participating sheriff's personnel are granted additional law enforcement power, including the ability to interrogate jail detainees about their legal status and to facilitate transferring custody of those without legal status to ICE for possible deportation. The program aims to strengthen public safety by formalizing cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. However, the decision has sparked community opposition due to fears over deportations and civil rights implications.
Meanwhile, Denton, Texas, is still in negotiations with ICE regarding participation in the 287(g) program. The Denton County Commissioners Court approved a jail enforcement agreement between ICE and the Denton County Sheriff's Office in February. Denton's City Council, under a weak-mayor system, has equal power to the mayor on policy decisions, and must approve the Denton Police Department's participation in the program.
City officials in Denton express concern over financial burdens, as the federal government does not reimburse participating agencies. Personnel costs such as salaries, benefits, and overtime for those trained in the program fall to the local sheriff’s department, adding fiscal strain on the police department and city budget already attempting to reduce overtime and expenditures. There is also a sentiment among local officials that immigration enforcement should be exclusively a federal responsibility, cautioning against unfunded mandates and the diversion of local law enforcement resources.
The 287(g) program, criticized by the American Civil Liberties Union as effectively turning local officials into ICE agents, has three models: jail enforcement, task force, and warrant service officer. As of August 2025, ICE had jail enforcement agreements with 123 law enforcement agencies in 27 states, and warrant service officer agreements with 333 agencies in 35 states. President Donald Trump issued an executive order in January requiring ICE to partner with local and state law enforcement under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
In summary, Keller is fully participating in 287(g), while Denton is still negotiating participation, with significant concerns over local budget impacts and the appropriateness of local law enforcement’s role in immigration control. ICE is responsible for travel expenses while the sheriff's personnel are in training, and Denton County must cover the sheriff's personnel expenses under the jail enforcement agreement. Any agreements must come before the full Denton City Council for discussion and a vote.
- The controversy surrounding Keller's participation in the 287(g) program highlights the intersection of community news and politics, as concerns over deportations and civil rights implications have sparked debate among residents.
- The Denton City Council, under its policy-and-legislation framework, must approve the Denton Police Department's participation in the 287(g) program due to its equal power with the mayor in decision-making processes, but fears over financial burdens and the role of local law enforcement in immigration control persist.
- The government's role in immigration policy-and-legislation, as exemplified by the 287(g) program, has been a topic of discussion in the general news, with debates over unfunded mandates, the diversion of local law enforcement resources, and the potential for violation of civil rights.
