Editor’s Note: The original version of this article incorrectly reported that the Sheriff’s Office was interested in the Jail Enforcement Model. This has since been corrected to show the Sheriff’s Office was interested in the Warrant Service Officer Program.

The Hays County Sheriff’s Office released a batch of internal files to The Star about ongoing deliberations toward an agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The deliberations for an agreement with ICE are legally mandated by SB 8, a 2025 law that requires sheriff’s offices in counties that operate a jail or co tratcs with a provate jail, to sign a 287(g) agreement. Under the law, the Hays County Sheriff’s office has until Dec. 1, 2026, to reach a finalized agreement.

The county initially sent a letter to the Office of the Attorney General on Jan. 29 seeking to block the release of all files related to 287(g). However, the county retracted the letter on Feb. 4 after being asked to comment on its decision not to release any files.

In a statement emailed to The Star on Feb. 4, the Hays County Sheriff’s Office said it wasn’t granting any interviews about 287(g) and had not yet reached an agreement.

“… We are still exploring operational considerations of complying with this statute,” the sheriff’s office wrote in its email. “We would anticipate a press conference to be held once the decision has been finalized.”

Under the 287(g) program, the sheriff’s office can choose one of three models: the Jail Enforcement Model, which would allow sheriff’s offices to identify individuals for deportation and process their removals, the Taskforce Model, which allows limited immigration authority and requires communication with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); and the Warrant Service Officer Program, which would have ICE train local law enforcement on how to execute immigration warrants.

According to the documents obtained by The Star, Paul A. Landsaw II, supervisory detention and deportation officer, fugitive operations for ICE, wrote to the sheriff’s office on July 15 to discuss 287(g) agreements.

“Given the recent changes with regard to 287(g) in Texas, I am reaching out to see if there is any renewed interest in any of the models we previously discussed,” Landsaw wrote. “Please let me know if you have any questions or if there is any additional information I can provide. I am happy to discuss how we can move forward with any of these models to enhance public safety in our community.”

The Aug. 6 response from the sheriff’s office indicates that the sheriff’s office was interested in the Warrant Service Officer Model . However, according to the email, the sheriff’s office was in a “heavy transition period” and wasn’t ready to move forward, but that it should hold meetings with ICE.

“We have discussed the options and are all in agreement the best option for us right now is the warrant officer in the jail,” Hays County Chief Deputy Brett Bailey wrote in an email to Landsaw. “Speaking only for myself, I know I have additional questions now that we have determined which direction we are going to go. I would appreciate the opportunity to meet again and discuss the process for how we move forward.”

The sheriff’s office continued discussions with ICE after the Aug. 6 email, including an exchange on Nov. 19. However, the Nov. 19 email was partially redacted, and the rest of the email chain was totally redacted before release.

The only other documents released by the sheriff’s office were unsigned agreements and form templates for asking to participate in the 287(g) program.

ICE responded to a Freedom of Information Act request by The Star for communications with the Hays County Sheriff’s Office by saying it had no records related to the request that were releasable under federal law.

This is a developing story. The University Star will update as information becomes available.