New Texas Bill Would Deputize Sheriffs for ICE, Spark Civil Rights Risks

The Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) has issued a strong condemnation of the Texas House of Representatives following its passage of Senate Bill 8 (SB 8) earlier this week. In a press release, the organization described the bill as a “dangerous measure” that would force local law enforcement agencies to operate as de facto federal immigration officers, raising alarms about potential civil rights violations and harm to public safety.

SB 8, now one step closer to becoming law, requires every sheriff in the state to enter into a 287(g) agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These agreements effectively deputize local officers to carry out federal immigration enforcement duties. The bill also grants the Texas Attorney General the power to sue sheriffs who do not comply.

According to the TCRP’s statement, this mandate would “divert critical public safety resources, erode trust between police and communities, and heighten the risk of civil rights violations across the state.”

TCRP outlined several key concerns in the release:

• Diverted Resources: By prioritizing immigration enforcement, the bill could pull focus away from serious local concerns such as violent crime and domestic violence.
  
• Eroded Public Trust: Immigrants and mixed-status families may become more reluctant to report crimes or seek help, making communities less safe.
  
• Racial Profiling & Wrongful Detention: The expansion of 287(g) agreements raises the likelihood of civil rights violations, including the wrongful detention of U.S. citizens and legal residents.
  
• Legal and Financial Liability: Counties may face costly lawsuits over civil rights violations, further straining local budgets.

“This bill threatens the safety and civil rights of all Texans,” said Danny Woodward, Policy Attorney at the Texas Civil Rights Project. “SB 8 forces local sheriffs to become immigration agents, undermining public trust, inviting racial profiling, and shifting focus away from genuine public safety. It’s a reckless and shortsighted policy that will make our communities less safe.”

The Texas Civil Rights Project is calling on Governor Greg Abbott to veto the bill and is urging Texans to oppose what it calls a “dangerous attempt to conscript local law enforcement into federal immigration crackdowns.”

As the bill moves closer to the governor’s desk, advocates and civil rights organizations are mobilizing to resist its implementation, warning that the long-term consequences could reach far beyond immigration enforcement.