Tarrant County Commissioners Approve ICE Partnership Expansion

Decision made amid protests, with multiple people escorted out of heated meeting.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The Tarrant County Commissioners have approved a controversial expansion of the county's partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), despite heated protests from the public during a contentious meeting on Tuesday.

Why it matters

The expansion of the ICE partnership is a divisive issue, with proponents arguing it enhances public safety and opponents claiming it unfairly targets immigrant communities. The commissioners' decision reflects the ongoing debate around immigration enforcement policies at the local level.

The details

During the Tuesday meeting, the commissioners voted to allocate additional funding to expand the county's existing agreement with ICE. This will allow for increased collaboration between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. The decision was met with vocal opposition from community members, leading to multiple people being escorted out of the meeting.

  • The commissioners approved the ICE partnership expansion on February 11, 2026.
  • The contentious meeting where the decision was made took place on Tuesday.

The players

Tarrant County Commissioners

The elected governing body of Tarrant County, Texas, responsible for approving the ICE partnership expansion.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal law enforcement agency that the Tarrant County Commissioners have expanded their partnership with.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This decision highlights the ongoing debate around immigration enforcement policies at the local level, with proponents arguing for enhanced public safety and opponents raising concerns about unfair targeting of immigrant communities.