Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown pushes back on Paxton’s ICE deadline
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Wednesday demanded Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown comply with a new state law requiring cooperation with federal immigration authorities, warning that he could take legal action if she doesn’t act.
Paxton announced he was investigating Brown for what he described as his “sanctuary policies” and sent him a formal letter ordering him to follow the 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which would allow local deputies to perform certain federal immigration enforcement duties.
The request stems from Senate Bill 8, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, and requires sheriffs in counties that operate jails to enter into agreements with ICE to increase cooperation on immigration enforcement. The partnerships, known as 287(g) agreements, allow federal authorities to delegate certain immigration enforcement powers to local officials, including questioning inmates about their immigration status and issuing administrative warrants.
“I will not allow the people of Dallas County to suffer because the sheriff refuses to work with ICE to keep violent vigilantes off our streets,” Paxton said, adding that his office would “ensure” compliance with state laws.
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a campaign event at The Angry Elephant on February 19, 2026 in Magnolia, Texas. Early voting began Tuesday with polls showing a tight race between Paxton and Sen. John Cornyn. (Mark Felix/Bloomberg)
In the letter, Paxton accused Brown of publicly rejecting that requirement after the law was passed, citing his October 2025 statement that “no additional efforts would be made” to secure such a deal. The official said his office did not report any attempts to comply, despite the state’s requirement that sheriffs show evidence that they tried to reach an agreement.
Paxton warned that failure to act could subject Brown to legal consequences and said his office has the authority to pursue lawsuits against sheriffs who fail to comply with the law. He demanded that Brown report on efforts to reach an agreement before June 1.
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He also noted other large Texas counties that have completed or are negotiating agreements with ICE, including El Paso, Bexar and Harris.
Brown walked back Paxton’s claims, writing in a letter obtained by FOX 4 Dallas that the timeline was incorrect and that the Legislature set the deadline for compliance as Dec. 1, 2026, not June 1.
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ICE personnel escort a handcuffed male detainee onto a charter flight to China during a large-scale removal operation conducted by ICE ERO Dallas on June 3, 2025. (ERO Dallas)
He also defended his department’s current practices, saying Dallas County is already working 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 Section 753,” Brown said in a statement. he said. He added that his earlier statements that “no additional efforts should be made” were taken out of context and reflected his view that current cooperation already meets the public safety objectives of the law.
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The dispute sets up a potential legal conflict between the state’s top law enforcement official and one of Texas’ largest county sheriff’s offices over how far local agencies should go in assisting federal immigration enforcement.
