Dallas County jail exceeded capacity over Labor Day weekend while holding a record number of immigrants for federal authorities, county officials reported last week.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has dramatically increased detention requests to North Texas jails, with Dallas County leading the state. The requests have exacerbated the overcrowding situation in the Dallas County Jail system, which has been plagued by inefficient software issues that have slowed the release of inmates who have completed their sentences, as previously reported in The Dallas Express.
Between February and May 2025, ICE issued 1,706 detainer requests in Dallas County — a 71% jump from 2024. No other Texas county received more requests.
Criminal Justice Department Director Charlene Randolph told county commissioners the jail is in “crisis” mode.
“Find ways to get [detainees] out,” she emphasized during the meeting, per the Dallas Observer.
ICE detainers ask jails to hold undocumented immigrants for up to 48 hours until federal agents arrive. These requests increased 30% statewide in early 2025.
North Texas counties saw the sharpest spikes. Denton County’s requests rose 115%, Tarrant County’s doubled at 107%, and Collin County experienced a 63% increase.
“It’s just convenient for them,” said Lena Graber, senior staff attorney at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, the Dallas Observer reported. “It takes many more hours to identify someone who is living in the U.S. at large.”
The Lew Sterrett Justice Center held 7,124 inmates on Monday evening. In 2015, officials reported that about 6.5% of detainees had active immigration detainers. If that estimate remains accurate, about 460 of the current jail population may have immigration detainers.
Dallas County previously limited cooperation with ICE. In 2015, former Sheriff Lupe Valdez ignored detainer requests for low-level, non-violent offenders while holding those accused of serious crimes.
That policy changes January 1. A new state law forces Texas sheriffs to partner with ICE through the 287(g) program, authorizing local immigration enforcement.
The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office maintained earlier this year that it lacked resources to assist federal immigration agencies.
“The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office’s role is to serve the citizens of Dallas County,” the department stated.
Immigration advocates warn that the crackdowns erode community trust in police. The timing compounds Dallas County’s space crisis as officials scramble for solutions.