Keller could soon become the largest city in Texas and the first in Tarrant County to formally work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to its mayor.
Mayor Armin Mizani announced Thursday that the City Council will consider a partnership through the 287(g) program’s jail enforcement model at its next meeting, which is set for Aug. 5. The jail model, one of three options under the 287(g) program, is designed to “identify and process” individuals when they are arrested by state or local law enforcement to see if they are also subject to immigration enforcement.
“This process takes place inside the jail and only applies to those already in custody,” the mayor said in a statement. “It targets criminals — not law-abiding citizens.”
Mizani, who is running for Texas Senate District 9, also touted the proposal in a Friday news release as an affirmation of his commitment to President Donald Trump’s border policies. He is currently competing against conservative activist Leigh Wambsganss and Democrat Taylor Rehmet for the seat held by former state Sen. Kelly Hancock.
Ahead of the council meeting, his proposal is already backed by Mayor Pro Tem Ross McMullin.
“There is no higher calling for local municipalities than to ensure the safety of its citizens,” McMullin said in a Friday statement to The Dallas Morning News. “I support the 287(g) program, and I look forward to learning more about how we will implement the program in Keller.”
The News also reached out to all other City Council members for comment Friday afternoon, but didn’t immediately receive a response from them.
The mayor’s announcement was not without opposition, garnering nearly 270 angry reactions on Facebook, as well as numerous comments expressing concerns about racial profiling and due process.
As of Friday, the Keller Police Department is researching the implications such a partnership could have for its Regional Detention Center’s operations, according to city spokesperson Rachel Reynolds.
“We will be sharing those details with city leaders in the weeks ahead to help inform their upcoming discussions,” Reynolds said.
ICE has partnered with the Tarrant County sheriff’s office under the jail enforcement model since 2020, according to the agency’s public data.
The data also shows ICE currently working with police departments in Nixon and Splendora, though these areas near San Antonio and Houston, respectively, are both significantly smaller than Keller in population. Keller, located around 15 miles northeast of Fort Worth, was home to nearly 47,500 people as of January 2024.