June 18, 2019      1:49 PM

Tarrant County commissioners vote 3-2 to renew 287g immigrant detention contract

Vote was along party lines, with swing vote Republican County Judge Glen Whitley in favor.

The Tarrant County Commissioners Court voted 3-2 to renew their contract allowing sheriffs deputies to work with Immigration Customs and Enforcement this afternoon after two hours of testimony. The 287g contract is a provision of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Act allowing local law enforcement to work with the federal agency in charge of enforcing the country’s immigration laws.

Supporters said more deputies trained to handle immigration cases helps the federal agency and deters crime. Opponents said it deters undocumented immigrants from reporting crime and stokes fear in the community.

Tarrant County first implemented the program in 2017 at the request of newly elected Sheriff Bill Waybourn, who campaigned as hardliner on immigration. At the time, the vote was unanimous, noted Commissioner J.D. Johnson, a Republican who represents a western portion of the county who supported renewal, noting Commissioner Roy Brooks, who was then the lone Democrat on the court, supported it.

“I voted for it then. I repent that vote,” he said to Johnson. 

Brooks and new Commissioner Devan Allen opposed it. County Judge Glen Whitley and Commissioner Gary Fickes joined Johnson in supporting it.

But until a few days ago, the contract's fate was uncertain. 

By James Russell

Copyright June 18, 2019, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved