State troopers with the Texas Department of Public Safety are now authorized to enforce federal immigration laws under two new agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The 287(g) partnerships, signed this week, deputize select DPS officers within the Highway Patrol and Criminal Investigations divisions to question, arrest, and process suspected undocumented immigrants under federal authority.
The agreements expand Texas’ role in border enforcement at a time of heightened political tension over immigration policy. DPS officials say the program will help streamline cooperation between state and federal agencies, while critics warn it could lead to racial profiling and increased traffic stops targeting Latino drivers.
The 287(g) program has been used by law enforcement agencies across the country since 1996, allowing state and local officers to perform certain federal duties after receiving ICE training and oversight.
Texas DPS has not said how many troopers will participate or when the new authority will take effect.
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