Attorney General Ken Paxton has become the first Texas law enforcement official to sign an agreement with the Trump administration to carry out its mass deportation efforts.
On Sunday, Paxton’s office announced the move, less than two weeks after President Trump handed down an executive order authorizing state and local law enforcement entities to perform the functions of immigration officers.
The order is pursuant to section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which the White House claims allows the federal government to co-delegate “the investigation, apprehension, or detention of aliens.”
Section 287(g) was added to the Immigration and Nationality Act in 1996 as part of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act.
“On day one, President Trump took bold action to make America safe again. I am proud to be the first to join him to restore our national sovereignty, secure our border, and ensure that criminal aliens face the justice they deserve,” stated Paxton. “As the top law enforcement official in Texas, I call on all agencies and departments to join me in the fight. We will enforce the law and protect America.”
Paxton’s agreement follows a January 29 executive order by Gov. Greg Abbott instructing “all appropriate state agencies to assist federal actors working under the direction of the Trump Administration with carrying out functions under federal immigration laws.”
Two days later, Abbott stated that his office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Texas National Guard continue to collaborate with the Trump administration on Operation Lone Star.
Abbott revealed to Breitbart on February 2 that he signed a memorandum of understanding between U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the State of Texas to grant Texas National Guard personnel the authority to make immigration arrests.
The order is “effective immediately” and “boosts man power for border security,” wrote Abbott in a post on X.
His act signals the latest escalation of the multi-agency operation established in March 2021. OLS has overseen the busing of more than 100,000 illegals to major Democrat-run cities since 2022 and the construction of numerous border barriers.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited the southern border over the weekend for the first time since her confirmation. She specifically toured an area under the Del Río–Ciudad Acuña International Bridge, which has been a hotspot of recent illegal activity.