Of all the states, Texas arguably has the most at stake in the debate over federal immigration laws. As one of only four states that shares a border with Mexico, Texas has a tremendous interest in border security, both in terms of public safety and the costs of illegal immigration. And as one of the few states whose economies are heavily invested in both high-tech industries and agriculture, Texas has much on the line when it comes to the flow of both high-skilled and low-skilled immigrants.
Building a Durable Immigration Enforcement Network with 287(g) Agreements
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently reported a landmark milestone: the 287(g) program now has over 2,500 active Memorandums of Agreement covering 39 states and two U.S. territories. These agreements authorize ICE “to delegate state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform specified immigration officer functions under ICE’s direction and oversight.” This...