Balcones Heights Council Leaves 287(g) Vote Unsettled After Hillcrest Drive Rally
Six Bexar County cities targeted in an August letter from lawmakers still have not changed their agreements with federal immigration authorities.
By Fatou Kim ·
The debate over how far local police should go in enforcing federal immigration law reached Balcones Heights City Hall on Monday, October 26, ending without a vote.
Hours before the council meeting began, demonstrators gathered on Hillcrest Drive outside the building. The crowd included Rebecca Flores, who chairs the Bexar County Democratic Party's Immigration Committee, Texas Sen. Jose Menendez, and dozens of other residents.
Flores addressed the demographic makeup of the city. "Eighty percent of the people that live here in Balcones Heights are minority," she said. Menendez, whose district office sits at Wonderland of the Americas, a property owned by the city, urged the council to drop the agreement. "I cannot be in a city that allows its law enforcement to become immigration officers," he said, adding that he may reconsider his lease if the city stays in the program.
Under the 287(g) Task Force Model, local officers can carry out certain immigration enforcement duties during routine police work under ICE oversight. The Department of Homeland Security says eligible agencies may receive reimbursement for some officer salaries, benefits, overtime, and equipment costs. Adam Castillo, a resident advocate, told the council to weigh those dollars against neighborhood concerns: "Hopefully the council will listen to us and side with us instead of the money."
The Monday gathering grew out of an August appeal from state and federal lawmakers who asked six Bexar County cities to review their 287(g) agreements: Balcones Heights, China Grove, Hollywood Park, St. Hedwig, Sandy Oaks, and Von Ormy. As of Monday evening, all six still worked with federal immigration authorities. Requests for comment sent to U.S. Reps. Marc LaHood, Carrie Isaac, and Chip Roy before the meeting had not been answered.
Residents told reporters the partnership could change how people view local officers. Flores said she worried about the effect on residents who fear questions about their immigration status and about families facing detention. Menendez said the agreement would keep people away from local shops and discourage crime reports. "I think it's going to really be a huge deterrent," he said. "I think it's a mistake. I think they should stop."
City officials did not speak with reporters at the meeting. The council has not scheduled a date for the next discussion of the agreement.
