Law enforcement agencies in Galveston County, Texas, have established a partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through the 287(g) program. This initiative enables local officers to perform certain immigration enforcement actions under the supervision of ICE, marking a significant shift in how immigration laws are enforced at the local level.
The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office, along with Constable Precincts 1, 2, and 4, and the League City Police Department, have officers participating in the 287(g) Task Force Model program. The program is named after a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act that authorizes these collaborations, allowing state and local law enforcement to assist ICE in determining whether individuals are in the country illegally, even if they are not facing criminal charges.
Constable Justin West of Galveston County Precinct 4 emphasized the program’s importance, stating, “We can proceed with an investigation into the immigration status using the 287(g) authority.” This statement highlights the shift in responsibilities that local law enforcement agencies are taking on in immigration matters.
As of now, 28 deputies from the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office have completed a 40-hour training course to participate in the program, with an additional 30 deputies currently undergoing training. The participating Constables’ Offices have collectively trained another 14 deputy constables. West noted that ICE agents have also provided on-the-ground training to help local officers understand the limits of their authority, stating, “They’re in the field, they’re helping us understand questions we can and can’t ask.”
According to the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement has already transferred 648 individuals to ICE custody this year, alongside 653 individuals held on ICE detainers in the jail. Sheriff Jimmy Fullen explained that this program allows deputies to expedite the process of identifying individuals’ immigration status without waiting for approval from federal agents.
There are three types of partnerships under the 287(g) program: Jail Enforcement Model, Task Force Model, and Warrant Service Officer Program. The Galveston County jail has been participating in the Jail Enforcement Model, which focuses on identifying inmates who may be in the country illegally. The Warrant Officer program empowers local law enforcement to serve administrative warrants against individuals suspected of being in the United States unlawfully.
Galveston County Judge Mark Henry clarified the program’s focus, stating, “They’re going after people who really need to be behind bars; they’re not going after the guy working in the back of the kitchen somewhere.” This reflects a targeted approach to immigration enforcement, aiming to prioritize serious criminal offenders.
The partnership builds on Galveston County’s existing history of immigration enforcement, which includes participation in Operation Lone Star, a state initiative aimed at addressing border security under Governor Greg Abbott. Constable Blake Patton noted that this program is a continuation of their efforts to assist federal agents at the southern border.
Fullen, West, Patton, and Constable Paul Edinburgh emphasized that participation in the 287(g) program will not interfere with deputies’ regular duties. “We’re not going into workplaces, we are not going to places of worship, schools, trying to yank people out that we think are illegal,” Fullen stated. “However, if we do come across them and we determine that they are in fact here illegally, we are going to process them and we are going to ship them back.”
While the League City Police Department has five officers trained under the 287(g) program, other local entities, such as the City of Galveston, La Marque, and the Galveston County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office, have opted not to participate. Precinct 3 Constable Derrick Rose reiterated that immigration status is a civil matter, not a criminal one, indicating a more cautious approach to enforcement.
The Department of Homeland Security recently announced that ICE will fully reimburse participating agencies for the annual salary and benefits of each eligible trained 287(g) officer. This financial support is part of a broader strategy, with ICE currently maintaining 958 agreements with local and state law enforcement agencies under the 287(g) program, reflecting a growing trend of local agencies taking on immigration enforcement roles.
