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Senate Finance Backs Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division, $5M Grant Program for Local Agencies
Summary
Senate Bill 6002 would create a centralized immigration enforcement division, a $5 million immigration-enforcement grant program, changes to driver‑license confidentiality protections and a requirement that grants may fund local agencies that enter into 287(g) agreements; committee approved the bill 10–1.
The Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee recommended Senate Bill 6002, which creates a centralized immigration enforcement division in state government, an immigration-enforcement grant program and changes to state identification confidentiality rules.
Chairman Jeremy Watson and committee members described the bill as already having been reviewed in multiple committees. The appropriations impact for creating the division was described as about $500,000 recurring; a $5,000,000 grant program was funded in the appropriations bill.
During debate the committee adopted a finance amendment that modifies the grant program to allow local law‑enforcement agencies to receive grant funds if they enter into a Section 287(g) agreement with the federal government. The amendment also extends confidentiality protections that currently apply to Department of Safety records to records held by the new enforcement division.
The committee recorded a roll‑call vote on the amended bill; the clerk reported the recommendation to the calendar with 10 ayes and one no. Committee discussion made clear appropriations in the companion budget bill provide initial funding for the grant program and the division’s administrative costs.
