SMITH COUNTY, Texas (KLTV) – The Smith County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office has said it will not pursue an agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The Pct. 1 Constable, Ralph Caraway Jr., made the announcement just before 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
“Our office is committed to serving and protecting every member of this community,” Caraway said. “We will continue to enforce the law, investigate crimes, serve civil process, and conduct traffic enforcement consistent with our legal authority and duties. Those responsibilities will not be expanded or exercised for the purpose of targeting any person because of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, color, or creed.”
The agreement allows local law enforcement agencies to enforce limited immigration authority while performing their routine duties.
Each agency in a county can choose whether or not to participate in the ICE agreement regardless of what the other county agencies choose.
At Tuesday’s commissioners court meeting, the court approved the agreement between the Pct. 4 Constable’s Office and ICE.
Caraway’s father, Pct. 4 Commissioner Ralph Caraway Sr., was the only vote in opposition to the agreement.
ICE operates under three 287(g) models.
The Task Force Model serves as a force multiplier for law enforcement agencies to enforce limited immigration authority with ICE oversight during their routine police duties.The Jail Enforcement Model is designed to identify and process removable persons — with criminal or pending criminal charges — who are arrested by state or local law enforcement agencies.The Warrant Service Officer program allows ICE to train, certify and authorize state and local law enforcement officers to serve and execute administrative warrants on people in their agency’s jail.
Below is a list of East Texas law enforcement agencies participating in the ICE 287(g) program, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. These are counties in the KLTV & KTRE viewing area. The list also includes the model and agreement signature date. Some agencies are participating in more than one model.
ModelSignedAnderson County Sheriff’s OfficeWarrant Service Model6/18/25Angelina County Sheriff’s OfficeWarrant Service Officer6/18/25Arp Police DepartmentTask Force Model11/14/25Big Sandy Police DepartmentTask Force Model11/6/25Franklin County Sheriff’s OfficeJail Enforcement Model5/20/25Gregg County Sheriff’s OfficeJail Enforcement Model3/17/25Harrison County Sheriff’s OfficeWarrant Service Officer2/24/25Henderson County Sheriff’s OfficeWarrant Service Officer10/17/25Hopkins County Sheriff’s OfficeWarrant Service Officer10/17/25Houston County Sheriff’s OfficeWarrant Service Officer4/2/25Jasper County Sheriff’s OfficeWarrant Service Officer8/7/25Morris County Sheriff’s OfficeJail Enforcement Model8/28/25Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s OfficeWarrant Service Officer8/4/25Panola County Sheriff’s OfficeWarrant Service Officer3/26/25Panola County Sheriff’s OfficeTask Force Model4/2/25Polk County Sheriff’s OfficeWarrant Service Officer5/6/25Rains County Sheriff’s OfficeWarrant Service Officer6/11/25Rusk County Sheriff’s OfficeWarrant Service Officer3/5/25Rusk County Sheriff’s OfficeTask Force Model8/28/25Shelby County Sheriff’s OfficeWarrant Service Officer9/22/25Smith County Constable Pct. 4Task Force Model10/17/25Smith County Sheriff’s OfficeJail Enforcement Model6/9/20Smith County Sheriff’s OfficeTask Force Model2/18/25Titus County Sheriff’s OfficeWarrant Service Officer3/10/25Titus County Sheriff’s OfficeTask Force Model3/10/25Trinity County Sheriff’s OfficeWarrant Service Officer8/7/25Sabine County Sheriff’s OfficeTask Force Model9/9/25Sabine County Sheriff’s OfficeWarrant Service Officer9/9/25
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