Texas AG Paxton Threatens Legal Action Over Dallas Sheriff ICE Pact
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 demanded Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown seek a 287(g) agreement with ICE and set a June 1 reporting deadline while warning of possible legal action.[1]
Sheriff Brown said the law gives her until December 1, 2026 to comply and that Dallas County already works with ICE, a statement that pushed back against Paxton's June 1 timetable.[1] Paxton pointed to other large Texas counties that have signed or are negotiating 287(g) pacts, including El Paso, Bexar and Harris, to press his case.[1]
Senate Bill 8 took effect January 1, 2026. The law requires sheriffs in Texas counties that operate jails to pursue 287(g) agreements delegating certain immigration-enforcement powers to local officers.[1]
The clash sets up a potential legal showdown between Texas' top law enforcement officer and a major county sheriff over how aggressively local jails enforce federal immigration law.
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📌 Key Facts
- On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, Texas AG Ken Paxton publicly demanded Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown comply with Senate Bill 8 by seeking a 287(g) agreement with ICE.
- SB 8, effective January 1, 2026, requires sheriffs in Texas counties that operate jails to pursue 287(g) agreements delegating certain immigration enforcement powers to local officers.
- Paxton's letter sets a June 1, 2026 reporting deadline and warns of possible legal action, while Brown counters that the statutory compliance deadline is December 1, 2026 and says Dallas County already works with ICE.
- Other large Texas counties including El Paso, Bexar and Harris have either finalized or are negotiating 287(g) agreements, which Paxton cites to press his case.
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