Texas Attorney General Demands Compliance from Dallas County Sheriff
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recently urged Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown to adhere to a new state law that compels her to collaborate with federal immigration authorities. He warned that legal action could be on the table if she fails to comply.
Paxton has initiated an investigation into what he describes as the “sanctuary policy” under Brown’s administration. He sent her a formal letter requiring her to sign a 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a partnership that enables local officials to handle certain immigration enforcement duties.
This request stems from Senate Bill 8, which took effect on January 1, 2026. The law mandates that county sheriffs with jails pursue agreements with ICE to enhance cooperation in immigration enforcement efforts. Essentially, these 287(g) agreements empower federal authorities to allow local lawmakers to manage tasks like probing prisoners’ immigration status and executing administrative warrants.
Paxton remarked, “We cannot let the citizens of Dallas County be endangered due to the sheriff’s unwillingness to collaborate with ICE to keep violent offenders off the streets.” He also emphasized that his office would ensure adherence to the law.
In his letter, Paxton referenced Brown’s statement from October 2025, where she declared a refusal to pursue such an agreement. He accused her of publicly dismissing the legislative requirement after its passage and noted that her office has not provided evidence of attempts to comply with the law.
Furthermore, Paxton cautioned that neglecting this issue could lead to legal ramifications for Brown. He stated his authority to take legal action against sheriffs who disregard the law, and requested that she report her efforts to secure an agreement by June 1.
He pointed out that other significant Texas counties, like El Paso, Bexar, and Harris, have either finalized or are in the process of negotiating agreements with ICE.
In response, Sheriff Brown challenged Paxton’s statements, claiming that his timeline was incorrect and that Congress has set a compliance deadline for December 1, 2026. She also defended her department’s existing practices, asserting that Dallas County has a working relationship with ICE that aligns with the intended public safety goals of the law.
This standoff hints at a potential legal confrontation between the state’s leading law enforcement figure and the sheriff’s office of Texas’ largest county, highlighting the ongoing debate about the responsibilities of local authorities in federal immigration enforcement.
