The bill, S.B. No. 658, introduces new provisions in the Texas Government Code regarding agreements between county sheriffs and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for the enforcement of federal immigration law. It mandates that sheriffs in counties with populations of 250,000 or more must request and enter into written agreements with ICE under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, allowing their officers to enforce federal immigration laws. Sheriffs in smaller counties may also enter into such agreements if they choose. The bill outlines the requirements for these agreements, including the need for sheriffs to allocate necessary resources for implementation and to make annual requests if they are not offered an agreement.

Additionally, the bill establishes a grant program administered by the attorney general to reimburse sheriffs from smaller counties for costs incurred while participating in these agreements. It requires sheriffs to submit annual reports detailing their activities and expenditures related to the agreements, and it mandates that the attorney general report on the overall participation in these agreements. The bill also provides for enforcement actions by the attorney general against sheriffs who fail to comply with the new requirements. The provisions will take effect on September 1, 2025, with a compliance deadline for sheriffs in larger counties set for December 1, 2026.

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