Lubbock County commissioners on Monday, Nov. 9, approved agreements that let constables in three precincts carry out some federal immigration enforcement under the supervision of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Each of the three agreements passed 3-2.
How they voted
The court took the agreements one at a time: items 14, 15 and 16, covering Constable Precincts 1, 2 and 4. On each one, Commissioners Jason Corley, Jordan Rackler and Cary Shaw voted yes. County Judge Curtis Parrish and Commissioner Mike Dalby voted no. That’s according to the county’s meeting video and caption transcript, which shows the vote announced as 3 to 2 each time.
Each agreement is a “287(g) Task Force Model” memorandum between ICE and one constable office. The name comes from the section of federal immigration law that allows these partnerships.
What the agreements allow
Certified officers would get broader immigration enforcement authority, including, under certain conditions, the power to arrest people without a warrant, KCBD reported after reviewing the agreement. The agreement KCBD reviewed makes the local agency responsible for personnel costs, including salaries, benefits and local transportation, whether or not it gets federal reimbursement.
Precinct 2 Constable Jody Barnes told KCBD the program could bring money for transportation, equipment and technology, though KCBD said the agreement it reviewed doesn’t list those payments. Barnes said officers would not go looking for people who are in the country illegally. They would process people they come across during regular duties, such as evictions and court-ordered move-outs. “They take over arrests, they take over reports, so that we don’t have to do that,” Barnes said.
The debate
Parrish said the agreement left too many questions unanswered. “My concern is that this agreement, not only is it out of date, it does not protect Lubbock County,” he said, according to KCBD. He described “so many loose ends, so many open questions” that the constables couldn’t answer.
Corley, who voted yes, said constables are already doing this work. “This will allow the constables to receive a little bit of compensation for their efforts,” he told the court, according to KCBD, adding that anything that helps reduce the tax burden deserves consideration.
Why Precinct 3 is not included
Precinct 3, which covers northeast Lubbock County, isn’t part of the agreements. Asked by Parrish why, Constable Jose A. Sanchez said his office already has a lot on its plate. “We have a lot of Hispanics and Mexicans in my precinct already. That would be too much,” he said, KCBD reported.
What happens next
- Signatures: Each agreement takes effect once both ICE and the local agency sign it, KCBD reported. We have not seen a signing date.
- Sheriff’s office: The Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office already has a separate 287(g) “Jail Enforcement Model” agreement with ICE. KCBD reported that the county will consider a similar task force agreement for sheriff’s deputies in a couple of weeks. That item hasn’t been posted on an agenda yet.
- Next meeting: The court pushed two personnel items to Monday, Nov. 23, according to the meeting video. Agendas are posted ahead of each meeting on the county’s website.
For a plain-English explanation of the three 287(g) models and what ICE requires of officers, see our preview from Sunday. Comment requested: we have asked county officials when the agreements will be signed and what reimbursement, if any, the constable offices expect.
Also Monday
- The court gave $1,000 from unclaimed funds to Fiestas del Llano for its annual Pancho Claus event, set for Dec. 5 at a new location this year, according to the meeting video.
- Commissioners approved fiscal 2027 critical needs funding applications for the New Deal Volunteer Fire Department (mostly communications equipment and hose), the Woodrow Volunteer Fire Department (rescue equipment and tools) and the Wolfforth Fire Department (air packs and hose).
Sources
- Lubbock County Commissioners Court video and transcript, Nov. 9, 2026 (Swagit): https://lubbockcountytx.new.swagit.com/videos/408036
- KCBD, Natalie Reyna, Nov. 9, 2026: https://www.kcbd.com/2026/11/10/lubbock-county-commissioners-approve-287g-agreement-with-ice/
- Hub City UnCovered preview, Nov. 8, 2026: https://hubcityuncovered.com/lubbock-county-287g-constables-commissioners-court-nov-9-2026-local-government-week/
