'Every illegal must be found, detained, and deported.' Texas Attorney General Office arrests 35 immigrants

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The Texas Office of the Attorney General announced Wednesday it detained 35 immigrants present in the country illegally and turned them over to federal law enforcement for deportation.

The arrests were made by the agency's Criminal Investigative Division (CID) in "multiple metropolitan areas" around the state. Those arrested were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“The invasion of illegal aliens encouraged by the Biden Administration represented one of the greatest threats to national sovereignty in our history," Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a news release. "We will defend the American homeland by deporting the illegal aliens threatening to alter the fabric of our country.” 

The agency entered into a 287(g) agreement with the federal government in February, shortly after President Donald Trump started his second term. A 287(g) agreement allows certain local and state law enforcement to perform certain federal immigration enforcement duties.

Paxton called on other law enforcement agencies in Texas to follow his lead and enter into a 287(g) agreement earlier this year. "We will enforce the law and protect America," Paxton said back in February.

More than 1,000 287(g) agreements have been signed across the country. There have been 206 agreements signed in Texas, according to data from the Department of Homeland Security. It's the second-highest number of agreements in the country behind Florida, which has 330 agreements currently.

A law enforcement agency can choose from three types of models in the 287(g) program. Those include the task force model, the warrant service officer model, and the jail enforcement model. The Texas OAG has a task force model, which allows officers to enforce "limited immigration authority" during their routine duties.

What is the Criminal Investigations Division?

The CID unit is staffed by commissioned peace officers and crime analysts, according to the Texas OAG's website. The agency says the division assists in the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes, white-collar crimes, Election Code violations, and public corruption matters.

The CID is also used as a resource for local law enforcement and prosecution agencies that have a lack of resources or a conflict of interest, according to the agency's website. It also says that CID will only become involved in investigations based on a written request from the head of those agencies.

The division is staffed in offices in Austin, Houston, Arlington, San Antonio, and El Paso.