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Texas S.B. 8 (89R) — ICE 287(g) agreements + grant program
Senate Bill 8 requires Texas sheriffs who operate county jails to cooperate with federal immigration authorities through the 287(g) program, in partnership with ICE. Under the law, sheriff’s offices must enter agreements that allow trained deputies to verify immigration status and carry out certain federal immigration enforcement duties inside local jails. There are three ways local sheriff departments can participate. The most limited version focuses on cooperation inside jails, allowing officers to serve ICE administrative warrants or identify individuals already in custody for potential detention or removal. The most expansive version authorizes trained officers to assist ICE during field operations, rather than limiting immigration enforcement to custodial settings.
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HB 354
HB354 establishes a Texas Border Protection Unit: an armed, state-controlled force tasked with detaining undocumented migrants that operates separately from federal immigration authorities and represents a significant step toward Texas creating its own parallel enforcement system.
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SB36
SB36 increases funding for state-level border enforcement, including the deployment of more personnel and surveillance technology. The bill establishes a Homeland Security division inside the Texas Department of Public Safety to consolidate immigration efforts.
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DACA IN TEXAS
Texas proposed new regulations for DACA recipients. On Jan. 17, 2025, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision finding that a Biden administration regulation to codify DACA violated U.S. immigration law. However, the court narrowed the ruling, making any change to DACA only applicable in Texas. On Sept. 29, the federal government submitted a proposal outlining how it recommends Judge Hanen implement the Fifth Circuit’s ruling.
The plan details a Texas-specific DACA structure, tying access to work authorization and lawful presence to a recipient’s address on record with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Under this plan, simply moving into Texas could trigger the revocation of both a work permit and lawful presence within 15 days.
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CAMP EAST MONTANA
Camp East Montana in El Paso officially opened its doors on Aug.17, 2025 . It can hold up to 5,000 single adults scheduled for deportation. The immigrants held there are scheduled to be there for a short-term period before they are removed from the country. The Washington Post reported in September 2025 that the detention facility was found to have no less than 60 violations in 50 days as the Trump administration expands the facility. These included proper monitoring and treatment for medical conditions, lacking basic procedures for keeping guards and detainees safe, and inadequate provision for detainees to communicate with legal representation.
