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McLennan County court records sheriff’s 287(g) agreement with ICE after hours of public opposition
Summary
After more than an hour of public comment urging the county to avoid a task‑force enforcement model, the McLennan County Commissioner’s Court voted Jan. 6 to ratify and memorialize the sheriff’s memorandum of agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under Texas’ Senate Bill 8. Sheriff’s office officials said the county will certify a limited number of deputies after 40 hours of ICE training.
The McLennan County Commissioner’s Court on Jan. 6 voted to ratify and memorialize a memorandum of agreement between the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the state’s recently enacted Senate Bill 8.
The decision followed a multi‑speaker public comment period in which immigrant‑rights advocates, faith leaders and residents urged the court to adopt the warrant‑service or jail‑based compliance models rather than the task‑force model. Blake Burleson of the Heart of Texas Network for Immigrant Rights warned the task‑force approach “would divert deputies from fighting violent crime” and “erode trust between law enforcement and Hispanic families.” Several speakers described fear among mixed‑status households and urged postponement; others said the county has until December to comply with the law.
Sheriff’s Office Captain Jason Barnum and Chief Deputy Cody Blossman told the court the office submitted a letter of interest and a memorandum of agreement on Dec. 12, 2025 and opted for the task‑force model…
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