State guide · TX

Immigration enforcement in Texas

8 published reports · Last updated Oct 19, 2026

Local context

Texas shares roughly 1,250 miles of border with Mexico and hosts several of the country's largest immigration detention facilities. State law SB 4 (2017) requires local jurisdictions to honor federal detainer requests, and the state operates its own border initiatives that are frequently the subject of litigation.

Because so much activity in Texas involves the border, it's important to separate CBP (border) actions from ICE (interior) enforcement when reading reports. ICE Radar labels the agency named by each source.

Published reports

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Independently corroborateddetention

Man dies in ICE custody at a Laredo-area processing center

A 56-year-old man held at an ICE-run processing center in the Laredo area was found unresponsive in his cell on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, and died, according to U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar as reported by The Texas Tribune and KGNS. KGNS reported that federal and local authorities are investigating and a medical examiner is determining cause of death. Reports differ on the facility's name and on the man's immigration status; DHS had not commented at the time of reporting.

Laredo, Webb County, TexasEvent: Oct 17, 2026The Texas Tribune +1

Single-source — not independently confirmedenforcement

Harris County DA says ICE moved and removed a witness to Houston vehicle incident

Houston Public Media reports Harris County DA Sean Teare said a man detained in the ICE vehicle involved in the Oct. 10 Houston auto-pedestrian incident was moved to the Port Isabel detention center, and was flown to Mexico hours after the DA's office interviewed him. ICE and DHS did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Houston, TexasEvent: Oct 16, 2026Houston Public Media

Independently corroboratedlocal government

San Antonio sues DHS and ICE over planned East Side detention facility

On Oct. 13, 2026, the City of San Antonio filed a federal lawsuit against DHS and ICE seeking to halt conversion of a roughly 640,000-square-foot East Side warehouse into an immigration detention and processing facility that could hold up to 1,500 people. The city argues the agencies skipped environmental review required by the National Environmental Policy Act and violated the Administrative Procedure Act.

San Antonio, Bexar County, TexasEvent: Oct 13, 2026The Texas Tribune +2

Independently corroboratedenforcement

Harris County DA investigates ICE vehicle striking a man during Houston operation

During an ICE enforcement operation in Houston on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, a man on foot was struck by an ICE vehicle. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare said his office is investigating and told reporters he believes the strike was intentional and is weighing aggravated-assault charges. ICE said the man ran in front of its vehicle and denied the strike was intentional. No charging decision had been announced at the time of reporting.

Houston, Harris County, TexasEvent: Oct 10, 2026The Texas Tribune +2

Single-source — not independently confirmedlocal government

Houston withdraws $150M federal grant application tied to immigration enforcement

Houston Public Media reports Mayor John Whitmire's administration withdrew a $150 million application to DOJ's "Model Cities Initiative," whose guidelines reference immigration law enforcement, after it had been submitted without city council approval.

Houston, TexasEvent: Oct 5, 2026Houston Public Media

Independently corroboratedcourt

Federal judge halts border barrier construction in Texas' Big Bend region

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone in El Paso on Oct. 2, 2026 granted a preliminary injunction stopping border barrier construction in the Big Bend region, in a suit by the Center for Biological Diversity and local plaintiffs against DHS and CBP, The Texas Tribune and Marfa Public Radio report.

El Paso, TexasEvent: Oct 2, 2026The Texas Tribune +1

Single-source — not independently confirmedpolicy

Texas schools reported losing more than 14,200 immigrant students last year

The Texas Tribune reports state data show Texas public schools lost more than 14,200 students meeting the state's definition of immigrant last school year; experts say the true decline is likely larger because the data use a narrow definition.

TexasEvent: Sep 30, 2026The Texas Tribune

Official recordenforcement

ICE reports 121 arrests in summer initiative around Lake Lewisville, Texas

ICE says its Dallas field office arrested 121 people during a summer-long enforcement initiative around Lake Lewisville in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, which ran from June 27 through Labor Day weekend 2026. According to ICE, two of those arrested are alleged Tren de Aragua members. Figures are as reported by ICE and have not been independently verified.

Lewisville, Denton County, TexasEvent: Sep 6, 2026U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement