Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has drawn a hard line against what he says are sanctuary-style policies in Dallas County, and now Sheriff Marian Brown is staring down a deadline that could trigger a major legal showdown with the state of Texas.
The clash exploded into public view after a horrifying May 3 shooting in Dallas left a pregnant woman wounded and her unborn child dead following an emergency C-section. Authorities say two illegal immigrants allegedly opened fire at a gas station before fleeing police, sparking renewed outrage over local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Now Paxton is making it clear he believes Dallas County leadership bears responsibility for refusing to fully cooperate with ICE.
In a sharply worded letter sent Wednesday, Paxton informed Brown that his office has launched a formal investigation into Dallas County’s immigration enforcement practices. The attorney general accused the sheriff of openly resisting state law and warned that continued refusal to comply would carry consequences.
“The decision of whether to seek such an agreement is not yours to make,” Paxton wrote.
At the center of the dispute is Senate Bill 8, a Texas law that took effect January 1, 2026. The legislation requires county sheriffs operating jails to pursue formal 287(g) agreements with ICE, allowing local deputies to assist with certain immigration enforcement duties, including identifying illegal immigrants already in custody and honoring federal detainer requests.
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