Local & State
Texas Democrats Push Bexar County Cities to Drop ICE Agreements
PN Team • 2 months ago
Reps. Joaquin Castro and Greg Casar held a San Antonio press conference urging six Bexar County municipalities — Hollywood Park, China Grove, St. Hedwig, Balcones Heights, Sandy Oaks, and Von Ormy — to end their 287(g) agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The agreements, entered under the Task Force model, let trained local police question people about citizenship status during patrols, access ICE databases, and arrest suspected undocumented immigrants.
Castro accused ICE of racial profiling and called the agency "rogue" and "abusive" under the Trump administration, citing conditions at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, which he has visited repeatedly and wants closed. He also suggested financial incentives, not just policy, are driving cities to sign on. Casar called on mayors to stop enrolling police in federal immigration enforcement. Texas law requires counties operating jails to participate in 287(g), a provision dating to 1996 legislation signed by President Bill Clinton, complicating efforts to unwind local participation.
Sentiment
- Donald Trump Trump's administration is described as running ICE in a manner called 'rogue' and 'abusive' by Castro, casting a negative light.
- Texas Texas is implicated as having a law requiring 287(g) participation, complicating local efforts, a mildly negative framing.
- Bill Clinton Bill Clinton is noted as having signed the 1996 legislation now complicating Democratic efforts, a mild negative association given the current context.
- Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party is implicated through its members' advocacy without direct characterization of the party itself.
- United States The United States is referenced through federal immigration policy discussions, a neutral factual mention.