Sheriff Immigration Law Enforcement Grant Program Senate Bill 8

Senate Bill 8 establishes a grant program supporting the sheriffs who have entered into certain kinds of immigration law enforcement agreements with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Eligible sheriffs will be able to apply for grant funds starting as early as Jan. 1, 2026.

Eligibility

A sheriff is eligible to apply for a grant if the sheriff has entered into an immigration law enforcement agreement as described by Government Code Section 753.051.

Available Funds and Qualified Expenditures

The amount of grant money awarded to a sheriff is based on population of the county the sheriff serves:

• $80,000 if the county has a population of 99,999 or less;
• $100,000 if the county has a population of at least 100,000 and less than 499,999;
• $120,000 if the county has a population of at least 500,000 and less than 999,999; and
• $140,000 if the county has a population of at least one million.

Sheriffs awarded a grant may use the grant funds to pay the costs associated with participating in the agreement that is the subject of the grant that are not reimbursed by the federal government.

Grant funds may be spent over a two-year period only on the following:

• Compensation for persons performing duties under the agreement;
• Generating and delivering reports required by the agreement, including administrative duties required under the program;
• Equipment and related services for peace officers and other persons related to the agreement, including the cost of repairing and replacing equipment required, but not provided, under the agreement;
• Attendance by a person at any training or other event required under the agreement;
• Costs to the county for confining inmates under the authority granted under the agreement; and
• Other expenses associated with participating in the agreement as determined by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

Contact us with questions about the Sheriff Immigration Law Enforcement Grant Program.

---

Need Help?

For additional information, contact the Data Analysis and Transparency Division.