Commissioners table memorandum of understanding with ICE after ACLU and community groups raise concerns

Cameron County Commissioners on Oct. 7 voted to table consideration of a proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that would identify immigration detainees in county custody.

County legal staff and the sheriff said they had been in constructive discussions with representatives of the ACLU and La Union del Pueblo (Lupe) about concerns and possible alternatives. The sheriff’s office and county counsel requested additional time to consider those concerns before bringing the MOU back to the court.

Commissioner Joey Lopez moved to table the item and Commissioner Benavides seconded; the motion passed. Court members described the need to balance legal obligations with local policy and emphasized further discussion would be held before any agreement was approved.

Earlier in the meeting a community group representative thanked the judge for making space to discuss the related topic of 287(g) warrant service officer programs; that public comment was noted but did not change the court’s decision to table the ICE MOU pending further review.