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Committee hears opposition to bill encouraging sheriff participation in 287(g) programs; discussion rolled to next meeting
Summary
Representative Garrett described H.B. 2219 to strengthen sheriff partnerships with federal immigration authorities via 287(g) programs; witnesses raised concerns about costs, data quality, and community trust. The committee ran out of time and rolled the remaining bills, including this one, to the next meeting.
Representative Garrett explained H.B. 2219, as amended, would strengthen immigration-enforcement partnerships between sheriffs and federal authorities by authorizing sheriffs to enter one of several program types (jail enforcement, warrant service task force, etc.) under a 287(g)-style arrangement. Garrett said municipal police departments would not be required to participate.
Ashley Warbington testified in opposition and criticized mandatory participation and fiscal impacts, saying mandatory immigration enforcement detracts from strategies proven to improve public safety. She pointed to an attorney general report and cited examples of 287(g)-type programs costing millions in other jurisdictions and questioned data quality and potential double counting. Committee time expired; members and witnesses were told to re-sign if they wanted to testify at the resumed hearing and the bills were rolled to the next week.
