Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a stern warning to Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown on Wednesday, urging her to adhere to a newly enacted state law mandating collaboration with federal immigration authorities. Paxton cautioned that he might pursue legal action if she fails to comply.
Paxton announced an investigation into Sheriff Brown’s policies, which he claims resemble “sanctuary policies.” In a formal letter, he instructed her to establish a 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which would authorize local deputies to undertake specific federal immigration enforcement duties.
This directive is linked to Senate Bill 8, which took effect on January 1, 2026. The law obliges county sheriffs operating jails to seek agreements with ICE to bolster cooperation on immigration enforcement. Known as 287(g) agreements, these partnerships enable federal authorities to delegate certain immigration enforcement responsibilities to local law enforcement, such as questioning inmates about their immigration status and serving administrative warrants.
“The residents of Dallas County should not bear the consequences of the Sheriff’s refusal to collaborate with ICE in keeping violent offenders off our streets,” Paxton stated, emphasizing that his office “will ensure” the law is followed.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is seen speaking at a campaign event at The Angry Elephant in Magnolia, Texas, on February 19, 2026. Early voting has commenced, with polls indicating a close contest between Paxton and Senator John Cornyn. (Mark Felix/Bloomberg)
In his letter, Paxton accused Brown of openly opposing the requirement following the law’s passage. He referenced her October 2025 statement in which she declared that “no additional efforts” would be made to secure such an agreement. Paxton asserted that her office has not demonstrated any attempts to comply, despite a state mandate for sheriffs to provide proof of efforts to establish an agreement.
Paxton warned that failure to act could expose Brown to legal consequences and said his office has authority to bring action against sheriffs who do not comply with the statute. He has demanded that Brown report efforts to secure an agreement before June 1.
He also pointed to other large Texas counties — including El Paso, Bexar, and Harris — that have either finalized agreements with ICE or are negotiating them.
Brown pushed back on Paxton’s claims, writing in a letter acquired by FOX 4 Dallas that his timeline is incorrect and that the Legislature set a compliance deadline of Dec. 1, 2026, not June 1.
ICE personnel escort a male detainee in hand restraints to board a charter flight to China during a large-scale removal operation organized by ICE ERO Dallas on June 3, 2025. (ERO Dallas)
She also defended her department’s current practices, saying Dallas County already works with federal immigration authorities.
“Dallas County currently maintains an active working relationship with ICE and participates in operational coordination substantially similar to the jail-enforcement model contemplated by Chapter 753,” Brown said in a statement. She added that her earlier remarks about making “no additional efforts” were taken out of context and reflected her view that existing cooperation already meets the law’s public safety goals.
The dispute sets up a potential legal clash between the state’s top law enforcement official and one of Texas’ largest county sheriff’s offices over how far local agencies must go in assisting federal immigration enforcement.
