TARRANT COUNTY (WBAP/KLIF)-The Tarrant County Commissioners Court voted to extend a federal program to have Tarrant County Sheriff’s Deputies to serve as Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers (ICE).
After almost 3 hours of public comment during a meeting Tuesday morning, the Commissioners Court voted 3-2 in favor to extend 287-G for another year. Supporters say the program keeps the community safer and gets repeat offenders off the street. Critics say the it’s unfair, racist and creates a sense of distrust between the community and law enforcement.
In 2017,Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn agreed to have 12 deputies trained to act as ICE agents under the federal program.
The program was supposed to expire June 30th.