This page is information, not legal advice. Texas has the most complex and rapidly changing immigration enforcement landscape in the country. As of late May 2026: the SB 4 (2023) illegal entry arrest provision is active - police can arrest someone they believe entered Texas illegally - but four other SB 4 provisions remain blocked by a federal court order, including state judges' deportation orders and illegal reentry charges. This legal status is actively being litigated and WILL change. SB 4 (2017) anti-sanctuary law remains fully in effect. SB 8 requires sheriffs in counties over 100,000 to enter 287(g) agreements by December 2026. Texas has 303+ agencies with 287(g) agreements - second most in the nation. Operation Lone Star continues with $11+ billion in state enforcement spending. Verify SB 4's current status immediately with ACLU of Texas, Texas Civil Rights Project, or RAICES before acting on anything in this article.
Texas is the country's longest-standing and most intensive state immigration enforcement environment. Governor Abbott launched Operation Lone Star in 2021, spending more than $11 billion in state funds on border enforcement - deploying the Texas National Guard, building state border barriers, and prosecuting migrants under state trespassing and smuggling charges. Texas has served, as the Immigrant Legal Resource Center has documented, as the experimentation ground for harsh enforcement policies that have spread nationally.
The legal landscape in Texas involves multiple overlapping laws with different statuses. SB 4 (2017) - the anti-sanctuary law - is fully in effect and requires cooperation with ICE, allows status questions during lawful stops, and penalizes officials who do not comply. SB 4 (2023) - the state deportation law that allows arrests for illegal entry and creates state deportation procedures - is in a volatile litigation posture with some provisions active and others blocked as of late May 2026. SB 8 requires major county sheriffs to enter 287(g) agreements by December 2026. And Texas has 303 agencies with 287(g) agreements as of February 2026, second only to Florida.
With more than five million immigrants in Texas and approximately 4.5 million people in mixed-status households, the enforcement environment affects an enormous portion of the state's population. Houston and Dallas, which have not yet signed 287(g) agreements under SB 8, have historically been more measured in direct local cooperation - but both cities have ICE operating independently throughout them, and are not sanctuary cities.
Part 1: Your rights under federal law - everywhere, including Texas
These rights come from the U.S. Constitution. They apply in Texas regardless of immigration status, citizenship, or how you entered the country.
At your front door
The Fourth Amendment protects your home from government entry without your consent or a judicial warrant. A judicial warrant is signed by a federal judge, based on probable cause, and authorizes entry to a specific address. An administrative warrant - ICE Form I-200 or I-205 - is signed by an immigration officer, not a judge, and does not authorize entry to your home without your consent. Ask through the door which type of warrant is being presented. If it is administrative, you are not required to open the door. SB 4 (2023) prohibits its enforcement in certain sensitive locations including primary and secondary schools, churches and places of worship, healthcare facilities, and SAFE-ready facilities.
During a traffic stop or street encounter
You have the right to remain silent. Under the Fifth Amendment, you do not have to answer questions about your immigration status, where you were born, or how you entered the country. Invoke this right by saying out loud: 'I am invoking my Fifth Amendment right to remain silent and want to speak to a lawyer.' You should say this explicitly - you need to verbally invoke it. You can ask whether you are free to go. If the officer says yes, you may calmly leave.
Under SB 4 (2017), Texas law enforcement officers can ask about immigration status during a lawful stop. Under the active provision of SB 4 (2023), if an officer has probable cause to believe you entered Texas illegally (from a foreign nation at a location other than a port of entry), you can be arrested. You do not have to confirm or deny your immigration history. Stating your right to remain silent applies to these questions.
What SB 4 (2023) allows - and what remains blocked
As of late May 2026: The illegal entry arrest provision of SB 4 (2023) is active. A police officer who has probable cause to believe you entered or re-entered Texas illegally from a foreign nation can arrest you. The following SB 4 (2023) provisions remain blocked by a federal court order: state judges issuing deportation orders, the illegal reentry criminal offense carrying up to 20 years in prison, the mandatory return of migrants to Mexico during proceedings, and other related provisions. The lawsuit blocking these provisions was filed May 3, 2026 by the ACLU, Texas Civil Rights Project, and partner organizations with new plaintiffs including individuals with pending immigration cases, U visa holders, and others with lawful status. This litigation is moving rapidly. Verify the current status with ACLU of Texas or Texas Civil Rights Project before drawing any conclusions about SB 4.
SB 4 sensitive locations - where enforcement is prohibited
SB 4 (2023) prohibits enforcement in: public or private primary or secondary schools, churches, synagogues, or other established places of worship, healthcare facilities, and SAFE-ready facilities. These are protections built into the law itself.
Do not sign anything without a lawyer
Under SB 4's state deportation scheme, a magistrate may ask you to agree to a state deportation order. You have the right to agree or not agree. You can invoke your right to remain silent and ask for an attorney. If you do not agree, you can be taken to jail and have a bond set. A state removal order only requires you to return to the country you are believed to have entered from - which may be Mexico even if that is not your country of origin. Do not sign any paperwork without speaking to an attorney first. A state removal order may affect your future federal immigration options.
Part 2: The Texas enforcement framework
SB 4 (2017) - anti-sanctuary law, fully in effect
The 2017 Texas SB 4 is a comprehensive anti-sanctuary law requiring Texas law enforcement agencies to cooperate with ICE detainers, banning local policies that limit cooperation with ICE, allowing officers to ask about immigration status during lawful stops, and imposing penalties - including removal from office and criminal charges - on officials who do not comply. This law is fully in effect and has been since 2017.
SB 8 - mandatory 287(g) for large counties
Texas Senate Bill 8, signed in 2025, requires all county sheriffs operating jails in counties with more than 100,000 residents to enter 287(g) agreements with ICE by December 2026. The Texas Attorney General can sue departments that refuse. Bexar County (San Antonio) was among the first large urban counties to sign. Dallas, Houston (Harris County), and Austin (Travis County) were still weighing their options as of early 2026. Any of these counties could sign by the December 2026 deadline - verify current status locally. Even without a 287(g) agreement, none of these cities is a sanctuary city under Texas law, and ICE operates independently throughout all of them.
Operation Lone Star
Operation Lone Star, launched by Governor Abbott in March 2021 and backed by more than $11 billion in state spending, deployed the Texas National Guard to the border, constructed state border barriers, and prosecuted migrants under state trespassing and smuggling charges. The Texas National Guard signed an MOU with CBP giving Guard members civil immigration enforcement authority. Operation Lone Star has been widely documented to result in racial profiling, deaths during high-speed chases and dangerous barrier infrastructure, and targeting of migrants who are not engaged in criminal activity. It remains ongoing.
303 agencies with 287(g) - second in the nation
As of February 2026, Texas had 303 agencies with 287(g) agreements - second only to Florida and far more than any other state. These range from major county sheriffs to small municipal departments. The Texas Attorney General signed a statewide 287(g) agreement with ICE in January 2025. Even before SB 8's December 2026 deadline forces additional enrollment, Texas already has one of the most extensive local enforcement networks in the country.
Part 3: The cities - Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso
Houston (Harris County): As of early 2026, Harris County had not signed a 287(g) agreement under SB 8. Houston has no sanctuary policy - ICE operates independently throughout the city. Harris County's $600,000+ annual cost when it previously participated in 287(g) and the community trust concerns contributed to its prior decision not to participate. Verify whether Harris County has signed by the December 2026 deadline.
Dallas (Dallas County): Dallas County had not signed a 287(g) agreement as of early 2026. Dallas is not a sanctuary city. ICE operates throughout Dallas independently of the city police department.
Austin (Travis County): Travis County had not signed as of early 2026. Austin is not a sanctuary city under Texas law. ICE operates throughout Austin.
San Antonio (Bexar County): Bexar County signed a 287(g) agreement, becoming one of the first large urban counties to do so under SB 8.
El Paso: El Paso is in the border region and is directly subject to both federal immigration enforcement and Operation Lone Star state operations. It has experienced some of the most intense enforcement activity in the state.
Part 4: What to do right now, before anything happens
Know your A-number and make sure trusted family members have it written down. Texas is home to more ICE detention beds than any other state. Detainees may be held at multiple facilities across the state, and transfer is common.
Check SB 4's current status before any encounter. The legal status of SB 4 (2023) is actively changing. The ACLU of Texas at aclutx.org and the Texas Civil Rights Project at texascivilrightsproject.org publish current updates. Do not rely on this article's description of which provisions are active - verify before relying on it.
Know the SB 4 sensitive locations where enforcement is prohibited: schools, churches, healthcare facilities, and SAFE-ready facilities. These are written into the law.
Under any law enforcement encounter, invoke your Fifth Amendment right to remain silent explicitly and verbally: 'I am invoking my Fifth Amendment right to remain silent and want to speak to a lawyer.' This applies to immigration status questions under both SB 4 (2017) and SB 4 (2023).
Do not sign state deportation agreements or voluntary departure agreements without speaking to an attorney. Under SB 4 (2023), a magistrate may present a state deportation option. This waives important rights and may affect future federal immigration options. RAICES and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid are primary resources.
Prepare guardianship documents for any children. With 4.5 million people in mixed-status families in Texas, family preparedness planning is essential.
Part 5: Legal help and resources in Texas
RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services) is the largest immigration legal services organization in Texas and provides hotline services during enforcement operations. Their legal director Javier Hidalgo has been a key voice on SB 4. Their website is raicestexas.org. Call 1-888-639-2444 for legal assistance.
Texas Civil Rights Project has been central to SB 4 litigation and publishes current enforcement status updates. Their website is texascivilrightsproject.org. Follow @txcivilrights on social media for real-time SB 4 litigation updates.
ACLU of Texas filed the new class action challenging SB 4 in May 2026 and maintains current know-your-rights information at aclutx.org. Follow @ACLUofTX for litigation updates.
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid serves low-income clients across Texas, including agricultural workers and border communities. Their hotline is 1-888-988-9996.
Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) has published comprehensive Texas enforcement analysis and maintains a map of county-level enforcement policies. Their website is ilrc.org.
For immigration court case information, call the EOIR automated line at 1-800-898-7180. To locate someone in ICE custody, use the ICE Online Detainee Locator at locator.ice.gov. Texas has numerous ICE detention facilities; major ones include the Karnes County Residential Center, Dilley Family Residential Center, Port Isabel Detention Center, and Laredo Processing Center, among many others. Call the ICE Detention Reporting and Information Line at 1-888-351-4024 if your person does not appear in the locator.
Texas operates the most extensive and continuously evolving state immigration enforcement framework in the country. SB 4 (2017) is fully in effect requiring cooperation with ICE. SB 4 (2023) is partially in effect - the illegal entry arrest provision is active; four other provisions remain blocked by court order as of late May 2026, with active litigation that could change this at any time. SB 8 requires large county sheriffs to enter 287(g) agreements by December 2026. Operation Lone Star continues with $11+ billion in state spending. Your federal constitutional rights apply in full: an administrative warrant does not authorize entry to your home, your Fifth Amendment right to remain silent must be verbally invoked and applies to immigration status questions, and you cannot be compelled to sign state deportation agreements or voluntary departure orders without a lawyer. Monitoring SB 4's litigation status in real time and connecting with RAICES or the Texas Civil Rights Project are the most important immediate steps for protecting your family in Texas.
This page reflects conditions as of late May 2026. SB 4 (2023)'s illegal entry arrest provision became active approximately May 29, 2026. Four provisions remain blocked by federal court order as of that date, with new ACLU class action and appeal pending. This legal status WILL change - verify immediately with ACLU of Texas (aclutx.org) or Texas Civil Rights Project (texascivilrightsproject.org). SB 8 mandatory 287(g) deadline is December 2026. Operation Lone Star is ongoing.