AUSTIN — Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, filed legislation to aid county jails in their coordination and collaboration with ICE and provide stronger legal tools to discourage the unlawful utilization of government resources in facilitating illegal border crossings.
“Over the last four years, the Biden Administration’s open border policies have had a devastating impact on the safety of our communities and their resources,” said Senator Charles Schwertner. “This program will help our sheriffs foster working relationships with the federal government to better protect and serve Texans.”
SB 658 would mandate that sheriffs serving populations over 250,000 collaborate with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement through the federal 287(G) Program, a tool that provides jail officers with the training and support needed to verify immigration status and issue an ICE detainer.
The attorney general will oversee compliance with the authority to bring legal action against sheriffs in mandated counties who do not comply. Locally elected sheriffs representing populations below the mandated threshold, who still wish to participate, may voluntarily enroll and are eligible to apply for a 2-year grant program through the Office of the Attorney General. While Texas has one of the largest populations of undocumented immigrants, only 26 of our state’s 254 counties currently leverage the 287(G) Program.
Additionally, Schwertner filed SB 659 to impose a first-degree felony charge for the offense of human smuggling using government resources, carrying a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. This legislation comes as a result of individuals misusing military vehicles, weapons, knowledge, and facilities for transporting smuggled persons, thereby exploiting essential resources and jeopardizing lives.
“Texas will not tolerate the misuse of taxpayer dollars by those entrusted with state resources,” Schwertner said. “This bill upholds the duty of public servants to act in the best interest of our citizens, while also safeguarding vulnerable individuals from dangerous conditions and human-trafficking.”
