House Passes Immigration Enforcement Bill Mandating Local ICE Cooperation

House Passes Immigration Enforcement Bill Mandating Local ICE Cooperation

By | Texas Scorecard | May 24, 2025

Working over the weekend ahead of Tuesday’s deadline to pass bills before the session ends, the Texas House approved legislation to require all county sheriffs operating jails to enter into formal agreements with federal immigration authorities.

Authored by State Sen. Charles Schwertner (R–Georgetown), Senate Bill 8 originally would have required sheriffs in the state’s 43 most populous counties to enter into immigration enforcement agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These agreements, known as 287(g) arrangements, allow local officers to assist federal authorities in identifying and detaining illegal aliens held in county jails. That version passed out of the Senate in early April.

But a floor substitute by State Rep. State David Spiller (R–Jacksboro), which replaces the original bill entirely, broadened the mandate while narrowing its scope.

Instead of applying only to counties with more than 100,000 residents, the new version requires all sheriffs who operate or contract to operate a jail in Texas to pursue a specific form of agreement with ICE known as the “warrant service model.”

“This substitute builds on the committee’s work but improves clarity, consistency, and enforceability,” said Spiller while laying out the bill on the House floor. “Instead of just piecemeal changes through a series of amendments, we thought it best to present a clean and comprehensive framework that reflects feedback from local law enforcement, legal counsel, other stakeholders, and state budget officers.”

Under the warrant service model, local officers are authorized to serve ICE-issued arrest and removal warrants to individuals who are already in jail on other charges. Spiller said this more targeted approach avoids some of the more controversial aspects of previous enforcement models that involve street-level operations.

“This is just done in the jail, for people that are arrested, that are already there on other charges,” he explained.

While the Senate version restricted financial support to counties under one million in population, the House’s version expands eligibility and establishes both a grant and reimbursement program.

Counties that enter into 287(g) agreements can receive grants ranging from $5,000 to $40,000 depending on population size.

Additionally, sheriffs can apply for annual reimbursements for the cost of housing ICE detainees. Spiller said these measures are designed to ensure “local taxpayers don’t get stuck footing the bill.”

“This isn’t about politics. This is about public safety concerns and law enforcement consistency across Texas,” said Spiller. “If you operate a jail in Texas, you should have a standing agreement in place to work with our federal partners and serve and execute these warrants—if they in fact exist. This policy protects our communities, ensures that dangerous individuals aren’t prematurely released, and supports the rule of law.”

The legislation passed in a vote of 89-50.

The bill requires one more vote in the House before going back to the Senate for final approval.

Brandon serves as the Senior Editor for Texas Scorecard. After managing successful campaigns for top conservative legislators and serving as a Chief of Staff in the Texas Capitol, Brandon moved outside the dome in order to shine a spotlight on conservative victories and establishment corruption in Austin. @bwaltens