The bill, S.B. No. 658, amends the Government Code by adding a new subchapter that establishes requirements for agreements between county sheriffs and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to enforce federal immigration law. Specifically, sheriffs in counties with populations of 250,000 or more are mandated to request and enter into written agreements with ICE under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, while sheriffs in smaller counties may do so at their discretion. The agreements must outline the scope, duration, and limitations of the enforcement authority, and sheriffs are required to allocate necessary resources for implementation. Additionally, sheriffs who do not receive an agreement must make annual requests until one is granted.

The bill also introduces a grant program administered by the attorney general to reimburse sheriffs from smaller counties for costs incurred while participating in these agreements. Eligible sheriffs must submit detailed plans for their participation and can use grant funds for specific expenses related to the agreements. Furthermore, the bill mandates annual reporting by sheriffs on their activities and expenditures related to the agreements, and it allows the attorney general to take legal action against sheriffs who fail to comply with the new requirements. The law is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, with compliance required by December 1, 2026, for larger counties.

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