Texas County Border Resolutions Affect Mixed-Status Families

 Posted on November 29, 2025 in Immigration

Across Texas, counties are increasingly adopting "border security" resolutions or participating in enforcement efforts. These efforts are expanding immigration-related activities into local jurisdictions. While most attention focuses on state and federal immigration, county actions can have immediate consequences for mixed-status families. A mixed-status family means some family members are U.S. citizens or lawful residents, while others are undocumented.

This increased local enforcement, along with shifts in county sheriff department priorities and formal cooperation with federal agencies, can threaten family unity. Understanding how these resolutions work and how they can impact mixed-status households is critical. Speaking to a knowledgeable Dallas, TX immigration attorney can help you determine what you can do now to protect your family and your future.

What is the Texas Stance on Immigration?

Texas has a very aggressive stance toward border enforcement, including programs like Operation Lone Star. This has set the stage for local Texas jurisdictions to participate actively in immigration enforcement. In some counties, resolutions have been passed that direct local sheriffs to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

A few counties (Hays County, for one) have adopted "humane treatment" stances, where commissioners unanimously passed a resolution urging humane treatment of immigrants and transparency during immigrant arrest operations. While the language and intent may differ from one county to the next, the consequences are real. Local law enforcement and county agencies are increasingly becoming yet another risk for immigrant families.

What Are These County Resolutions Mandating?

These county "border security" resolutions may include any of the following:

• A declaration of support for increased immigration enforcement at the county level
• Formal agreements with ICE to permit local deputies to enforce federal immigration laws
• Policies that encourage local law enforcement to stop, question, and detain individuals based on immigration suspicion.
• Allocation of county resources like detention, information sharing, and transportation for immigration enforcement.
• Resolutions that reshape policing policy priorities to expose undocumented residents.  

How Do These New County Resolutions Affect Mixed-Status Families?

For Texas families who have some members who are U.S. citizens and others who are undocumented, these new local policies can create fear and anxiety. For example, say a U.S. citizen child attends school in a county where the sheriff’s office has immigration enforcement agreements with ICE. The undocumented parent of this child may avoid medical appointments, school meetings, or community events out of fear of local law enforcement.

A mixed-status household may avoid accessing public benefits or health care that the citizen family members are entitled to receive out of fear for the undocumented family members. An undocumented family member may be afraid to go to work, depriving the family of income. Even lawful residents can suffer anxiety when local law enforcement aggressively pursues immigration enforcement.

Are There Any Legal Remedies for Mixed-Status Families?

U.S. citizen children have constitutional rights to education, federal benefits, and due process that extend even when a parent is undocumented. An undocumented parent married to a U.S. citizen, or one who qualifies under the parole-in-place program, may have legal paths to status adjustment. All mixed-status families in jurisdictions where county enforcement is active should prepare contingency plans concerning guardianship for citizen children, medical access to services, emergency contacts, and knowledge of rights.  

Contact a Dallas, TX Immigration Lawyer

County-level border security resolutions in Texas can lead to real disruptions to families, fear, and increased risk. While immigration occurs at the federal level, enforcement is increasingly happening locally. To ensure your family is fully prepared for the detention of a family member, speak to a highly experienced Plano, TX family immigration attorney from Law Office of Jae Lee.

Attorney Lee can review your family’s immigration and status profile and help you develop a contingency plan.  He offers one-on-one guidance and can work with clients remotely when necessary. Clients will work directly with Attorney Lee, whose own parents went through the immigration process.