Overview
- SB8 requires every county sheriff’s office to apply for ICE’s 287(g) agreements or a similar federal immigration program.
- The bill establishes upfront state grants of $80,000 to $140,000 per county to cover costs associated with implementing 287(g) partnerships.
- Starting December 1, 2026, the Texas attorney general may sue sheriffs who fail to secure or enter into the required ICE agreements.
- Opponents including the ACLU argue the mandate will erode trust in law enforcement, increase racial profiling, and support mass deportation efforts.
- With 85 counties already holding some level of ICE agreement and Gov. Abbott expected to sign SB8, Texas further aligns with Trump-era deportation policies.