TITLE: Relating to agreements between sheriffs and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration law.

SUMMARY: Relating to agreements between sheriffs and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration law.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to agreements between sheriffs and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration law. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 752, Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter Dto read as follows: SUBCHAPTER D. IMMIGRATION LAW ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENTS BETWEEN SHERIFFS AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Sec. 752.081. IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENTS. (a) The sheriff of each county with a population of 250,000 or more shall request, and as offered, enter into a written agreement with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement under Section 287(g), Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. Section 1357(g)), or an agreement under a similar federal program to authorize officers and employees of the sheriff's department to enforce federal immigration law. (b) The sheriff of a county with a population of less than 250,000 may request, and as offered, enter into a written agreement with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement under Section 287(g), Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. Section 1357(g)), or an agreement under a similar federal program to authorize officers and employees of the sheriff's department to enforce federal immigration law. (c) An agreement entered into under this section must include the scope, duration, and limitations of the authority to enforce federal immigration law. (d) A sheriff who enters into an agreement under this section shall allocate the necessary resources, including personnel and funding, to ensure the proper implementation of the agreement, including the resources necessary to meet any reasonable objectives for enforcement set forth in the agreement. (e) The sheriff of a county with a population of 250,000 or more who requested but was not offered a written agreement under this section shall make additional requests to enter into a written agreement under this section at least once annually after each request is made. Sec. 752.082. GRANT PROGRAM FOR SHERIFFS OF SMALL COUNTIES IMPLEMENTING IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENT. (a) In this section, "grant" means a grant authorized to be awarded by the attorney general under the grant program established by this section. (b) Only if appropriated money for this purpose, the attorney general shall establish and administer a competitive grant program to support the state purpose of ensuring the security of this state's borders by awarding grants to reimburse eligible sheriffs the costs of participating in agreements entered into under Section 752.081. (c) A sheriff is eligible to apply for a grant under this section if the sheriff serves a county that has a population of less than 250,000 and has entered into an agreement under Section 752.081. The application must include a detailed plan on how the sheriff intends to implement and sustain the sheriff's participation in the agreement. (d) On approval of an application submitted under Subsection (c) and using money appropriated to the attorney general for this purpose, the attorney general shall award a grant to an eligible sheriff who applies for the grant. (e) A sheriff who is awarded a grant under this section must use the grant money to pay the costs associated with participating in the agreement that is the subject of the grant that are not reimbursed by the federal government. Grant money may only be spent over a two-year period on: (1) stipends for employees participating in the agreement; (2) generating and delivering reports required by the agreement, including reports required by this subchapter; (3) equipment related to the agreement purchased for a county jail; and (4) other expenses associated with participating in the agreement as determined by the attorney general. (f) The attorney general shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section, including rules that establish: (1) a standardized application process, including the form to be used to apply for a grant and the manner of submitting the form; (2) deadlines for: (A) applying for the grant; (B) submitting detailed documentation necessary to demonstrate the sheriff's costs in participating in the agreement that is the subject of the grant at least once each quarter; (C) distributing grant money; and (D) spending grant money; and (3) procedures for: (A) monitoring the distribution of grant money to ensure compliance with this section; and (B) returning grant money that was not used by a sheriff for a purpose authorized by this section. Sec. 752.083. REPORTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY. (a) A sheriff who has entered into an agreement under Section 752.081 shall annually submit a written report to the attorney general. The report must provide details on the sheriff's activities, expenditures, and outcomes related to the agreement. (b) The sheriff of a county with a population of 250,000 or more who has not entered into an agreement under Section 752.081 shall annually provide proof to the attorney general of the sheriff's attempt to enter into the agreement. (c) The attorney general shall prepare an annual written report on participation in agreements entered into under Section 752.081 and submit the report to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives. The report must include: (1) a summary of the sheriff reports submitted under Subsection (a); (2) details on the grant program established under Section 752.082, including the number of sheriffs participating and total amount of money distributed; and (3) a summary of any enforcement actions taken under Section 752.084. Sec. 752.084. ENFORCEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL. (a) The attorney general may bring an action against a sheriff who fails to comply with this subchapter in a district court in Travis County for appropriate equitable relief. (b) The attorney general may recover reasonable expenses incurred in obtaining relief under Subsection (a), including court costs, reasonable attorney's fees, investigative costs, witness fees, and deposition costs. SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2026, the sheriff of each county with a population of 250,000 or more shall comply with Section 752.081(a), Government Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.