Ken Paxton Vows That 'Every Illegal Must be Found'

Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that his office's Criminal Investigative Division has detained and turned over 35 illegal aliens for deportation through its agreement with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The agreement allows state law enforcement officers to perform certain federal immigration enforcement functions.

"Throughout our partnership with the Trump Administration, Texas is a safer place. Every illegal must be found, detained, and deported," said Paxton. "We will defend the American homeland by deporting the illegal aliens threatening to alter the fabric of our country."

According to the Attorney General's Office, the detained individuals were encountered in multiple metropolitan areas across the state and subsequently processed for removal by ICE under federal immigration law.

The 287(g) program, established under Section 287 (g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to delegate immigration enforcement powers to state and local officials who complete federal training. Donald Trump's second-term executive order prioritized enhanced border security and expanded the cooperative agreement nationwide.

In February, Paxton became the first law enforcement official in Texas to enter into a renewed 287(g) agreement during the current administration. The arrangement empowers trained officers within the Attorney General's Office to assist federal agencies in identifying, detaining, and processing individuals unlawfully present in the United States.