Texas DPS Expands Role in 2025 Immigration Crackdown and Arrests

(TEXAS, UNITED STATES) The Texas Department of Public Safety is taking a larger, statewide role in immigration enforcement in 2025, marking a major shift from prior years. Under expanded powers, new funding, and close coordination with federal partners, Texas DPS has moved beyond the border to arrest thousands of people suspected of violating federal immigration laws.

Since January, state officials have tied these moves to public safety goals and to support of the Trump administration’s removal efforts, while civil rights groups warn of racial profiling and due process risks.

Key statistics and scope

• Under Operation Lone Star 2.0, DPS has arrested more than 3,000 undocumented immigrants from late January through early September 2025.
• About 88% of those arrests were for suspected federal immigration violations, a function long handled by federal agencies.
• Nearly 700 arrests—roughly one in five—occurred in metro areas like Austin, Dallas, and Houston, far from the border, indicating a broader interior mission for state troopers.

The increased activity includes specialty “strike teams” formed at Governor Greg Abbott’s direction to help federal deportation operations led by President Trump’s administration. These teams target people believed to have entered the country unlawfully and those with criminal records.

“Right now, we’re going after the migrants that pose the largest threat to the communities. And there’s a lot of them.” — DPS Director Freeman Martin (February)

A DPS spokesperson, Sheridan Nolen, emphasized troopers have statewide jurisdiction but must have probable cause to make an arrest, and declined to discuss operational details.

Funding and resources

The Legislature backed the expansion with $3.4 billion in new border security funding earlier this year. About one-third of that funding is designated for Texas DPS to push enforcement into the state’s interior.

An analysis by VisaVerge.com concluded the larger budget and fresh authorities have turned DPS into a central player in the state’s immigration crackdown, reshaping daily life for immigrant families across Texas.

Policy changes and legal fight

Texas adopted several measures in 2025 affecting enforcement authority and cooperation with federal immigration agencies:

• SB4: Would give state and local officers, including DPS, authority to detain and deport people suspected of being in the country unlawfully. A federal court found the law unconstitutional in 2024; as of September 2025, it remains on hold pending appeal.
• SB8: Requires stronger cooperation with ICE in counties with more than 100,000 residents, tying local jails and DPS operations more closely to federal custody transfers.
• SB36: Boosts funding and creates a Homeland Security division within DPS to combine immigration-related work under one roof.
• HB354: Establishes the Texas Border Protection Unit, an armed, state-controlled force to detain undocumented migrants, operating separately from federal authorities.

In January 2025, Texas also entered an unprecedented 287(g) agreement with ICE. The deal authorizes trained DPS officers to perform certain federal immigration tasks during routine enforcement activities:

• Identify noncitizens
• Detain them
• Start removal proceedings

Attorney General Ken Paxton helped broker the agreement. Supporters say it speeds transfers to federal custody; critics note the arrangement faces legal scrutiny and may be narrowed by courts.

Governor Abbott framed the approach as helping “locate and arrest criminal illegal immigrants,” calling it a new chapter in state-federal partnership. State crime figures frequently cited by supporters include:

Critics point to federal ICE data showing that as of September 7, 70.8% of the 58,766 people in ICE detention had no criminal conviction, which they say undercuts blanket public safety claims.

Community impact and daily operations

These policy changes push the limits of state power in immigration, traditionally a federal domain. The legal fight over SB4 raises constitutional questions around preemption, due process, and equal protection.

Practical effects for immigrants and communities:

• Higher chance of arrest for undocumented immigrants, and possible impacts on some people with legal status.
• Increased fear in neighborhoods far from the border as DPS patrols and coordinated stings become more visible.
• Employers becoming more cautious about hiring while tracking state rules and potential penalties.
• New restrictions on property ownership by certain foreign nationals, effective September 1, 2025, adding long-term concerns for families.

Civil liberties organizations, including the ACLU of Texas, warn of due process problems tied to interior arrests from low-level stops, limited transparency about DPS strike team operations, and complaints of racial profiling. They say victims and witnesses may avoid calling police, potentially hurting public safety.

Texas officials counter that DPS focuses on threats to communities and that probable cause standards still apply.

On the ground, DPS arrests often involve:

• Traffic stops
• Surveillance
• Targeted probes
• Joint operations with federal agents

Under the 287(g) agreement, select DPS officers receive ICE training and can start immigration cases when encountering noncitizens during routine duties. After arrest, people may be held in local or state facilities and then transferred to ICE for removal proceedings.

For custody or transfer questions, Texans can visit the Texas Department of Public Safety website at dps.texas.gov.

Arguments for and against the expansion

Supporters of Operation Lone Star 2.0:
– Say the strategy deters unlawful crossings and removes people with serious criminal histories.
– View the 287(g) partnership as a force multiplier that speeds coordination with federal officers.

Critics argue:
– ICE custody numbers and increased interior arrests show a dragnet that can sweep in long-settled families, DACA recipients, and asylum seekers.
– Lawsuits and court rulings ahead could reset the boundary between state and federal roles; a possible Supreme Court review looms if appeals continue.

Historical context and potential outcomes

• Operation Lone Star began in 2021, focusing on trespassing cases near the Rio Grande.
• By 2025, the program has evolved into a statewide campaign with greater funding, broader DPS authorities, and deeper federal ties.
• The shift followed clashes with federal policy under previous Democratic administrations and closer cooperation under President Trump on detention and deportation priorities.

Possible legal outcomes and implications:

1. If the SB4 appeal upholds the law:
   • DPS and local police could gain sweeping powers to detain and deport undocumented individuals.
   • Arrest-and-deport authority could be codified and expanded across the interior.
2. If courts block SB4:
   • Texas would rely on the 287(g) agreement and criminal statutes for stepped-up enforcement.
   • Lawmakers may consider additional steps; other states may study the 287(g) model, though litigation could limit its spread.

What’s next and what it means

• The outcome of the SB4 appeal (possible decision in late 2025 or early 2026) will largely determine the reach of Texas DPS.
• Regardless of immediate rulings, Texas is already operating with billions in new funding and a network of state laws and federal agreements that make it a test case for state-led immigration enforcement.

For immigrant families, attorneys, and employers across the United States, the message is clear: Texas is moving fast, and the rules may shift again. Until courts decide, Texas DPS will continue to play a leading role under Operation Lone Star 2.0.