Francesca D'Annunzio
@francescadnunz.bsky.social
Texas Observer investigative reporter covering the immigration enforcement, US-MX borderlands, AI surveillance tech, + extremism.
multilingual, nosy, and probably filing records requests
📩 dannunzio@texasobserver.org
https://linktr.ee/FrancescaDnunz
multilingual, nosy, and probably filing records requests
📩 dannunzio@texasobserver.org
https://linktr.ee/FrancescaDnunz
full story is here:
www.texasobserver.org/texas-dps-28...
www.texasobserver.org/texas-dps-28...
Texas Turns Its Sprawling State Police Force Into Immigration Agents for Trump
The notorious 287(g) task force program has finally reached DPS, raising fears of widespread racial profiling.
www.texasobserver.org
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
full story is here:
www.texasobserver.org/texas-dps-28...
www.texasobserver.org/texas-dps-28...
But even before DPS signed up for 287(g), Woodward said, “We’re seeing them do that already.” The only difference now, he said, is “they’re no longer gonna have to call ICE.”
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
But even before DPS signed up for 287(g), Woodward said, “We’re seeing them do that already.” The only difference now, he said, is “they’re no longer gonna have to call ICE.”
“In some ways, that gives them more power than ICE, because they now have both of those authorities,” said Danny Woodward, a policy attorney at the Texas Civil Rights Project.
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
“In some ways, that gives them more power than ICE, because they now have both of those authorities,” said Danny Woodward, a policy attorney at the Texas Civil Rights Project.
Local and state cops deputized to act as ICE agents will be able to essentially mix and match their authorities, enforcing federal immigration law in the process of enforcing state criminal and traffic laws.
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Local and state cops deputized to act as ICE agents will be able to essentially mix and match their authorities, enforcing federal immigration law in the process of enforcing state criminal and traffic laws.
None of the three Salvadoran drivers had criminal records in Texas, and DPS officers didn’t write traffic tickets for two of them. The only written ticket, per records obtained by the Observer, was for a brake light violation.
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
None of the three Salvadoran drivers had criminal records in Texas, and DPS officers didn’t write traffic tickets for two of them. The only written ticket, per records obtained by the Observer, was for a brake light violation.
In June, DPS helped federal agents arrest three undocumented Salvadorans in Longview by stopping them for traffic violations after they left their home. ICE agents promptly arrested the three immigrants, according to dashcam video and incident reports.
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
In June, DPS helped federal agents arrest three undocumented Salvadorans in Longview by stopping them for traffic violations after they left their home. ICE agents promptly arrested the three immigrants, according to dashcam video and incident reports.
Three months prior, according to records we obtained, DPS officers tagged along to a South Dallas home to help ICE arrest a Venezuelan man with no criminal record.
They tracked him down using his ankle monitor; he'd previously been part of the Alternatives to Detention program.
They tracked him down using his ankle monitor; he'd previously been part of the Alternatives to Detention program.
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Three months prior, according to records we obtained, DPS officers tagged along to a South Dallas home to help ICE arrest a Venezuelan man with no criminal record.
They tracked him down using his ankle monitor; he'd previously been part of the Alternatives to Detention program.
They tracked him down using his ankle monitor; he'd previously been part of the Alternatives to Detention program.
That same month, DPS also assisted FBI and ICE agents in arresting a Venezuelan construction worker in Bryan who was publicly accused by ICE of gang membership without evidence.
www.texasobserver.org/venezuelan-d...
www.texasobserver.org/venezuelan-d...
A Venezuelan Was Detained as a 'Documented' Gang Member by ICE, Which Refused to Provide Proof
The Venezuelan immigrant, who has no criminal record, previously worked for a multinational corporation that sells snacks, food, and soft drinks.
www.texasobserver.org
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
That same month, DPS also assisted FBI and ICE agents in arresting a Venezuelan construction worker in Bryan who was publicly accused by ICE of gang membership without evidence.
www.texasobserver.org/venezuelan-d...
www.texasobserver.org/venezuelan-d...
The agency said it was a gathering of Tren de Aragua members, but cops never offered evidence to substantiate that claim. Most party attendees were not criminally charged, but many were deported. Only two drug charges were filed; both defendants were deported, not convicted.
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
The agency said it was a gathering of Tren de Aragua members, but cops never offered evidence to substantiate that claim. Most party attendees were not criminally charged, but many were deported. Only two drug charges were filed; both defendants were deported, not convicted.
Some examples from this year:
In April, DPS officers worked with ICE and the FBI in a multi-agency raid at a birthday party in an AirBnb outside Austin, where they arrested nearly 50 people, including children.
www.texasobserver.org/officials-tr...
In April, DPS officers worked with ICE and the FBI in a multi-agency raid at a birthday party in an AirBnb outside Austin, where they arrested nearly 50 people, including children.
www.texasobserver.org/officials-tr...
Officials Said They Busted a Tren de Aragua Party. Attendees Beg to Differ.
A highly publicized multi-agency raid in Hays County resulted in dozens of arrests on low-level immigration charges and left an Austin mother's life in tatters. It also fit a pattern of unproven gang-...
www.texasobserver.org
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Some examples from this year:
In April, DPS officers worked with ICE and the FBI in a multi-agency raid at a birthday party in an AirBnb outside Austin, where they arrested nearly 50 people, including children.
www.texasobserver.org/officials-tr...
In April, DPS officers worked with ICE and the FBI in a multi-agency raid at a birthday party in an AirBnb outside Austin, where they arrested nearly 50 people, including children.
www.texasobserver.org/officials-tr...
Nevertheless, even before signing up to deputize its officers as immigration agents, DPS has been coordinating closely with ICE on immigration arrests at Abbott’s direction.
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Nevertheless, even before signing up to deputize its officers as immigration agents, DPS has been coordinating closely with ICE on immigration arrests at Abbott’s direction.
Even without the new agreements, one in four U.S. immigration arrests this year have been in the Lone Star State, according to statistics compiled by the Deportation Data Project and first reported by the Texas Tribune.
www.texastribune.org/2025/11/03/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/11/03/t...
Data shows how immigration crackdown plays out in Texas
ICE agents are arresting more immigrants on the streets and at routine check-ins than under President Biden. But most of them don’t have criminal convictions despite pledges to pursue “the worst of th...
www.texastribune.org
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Even without the new agreements, one in four U.S. immigration arrests this year have been in the Lone Star State, according to statistics compiled by the Deportation Data Project and first reported by the Texas Tribune.
www.texastribune.org/2025/11/03/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/11/03/t...
Two DHS inspector general reports from 2010 showed that most immigrants encountered or arrested through 287(g) programs around that time had committed either minor crimes or traffic infractions.
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Two DHS inspector general reports from 2010 showed that most immigrants encountered or arrested through 287(g) programs around that time had committed either minor crimes or traffic infractions.
Other forms of 287(g) exist, but both are limited to the county jail setting and have sparked far less controversy than the task force model, which was revived by Trump earlier this year more than a decade after it was terminated amid controversy over racial profiling.
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Other forms of 287(g) exist, but both are limited to the county jail setting and have sparked far less controversy than the task force model, which was revived by Trump earlier this year more than a decade after it was terminated amid controversy over racial profiling.
When exercising this newfound authority, local officers must seek guidance from an ICE supervisor—but are allowed to do so “as soon as is practicable” after exercising the authority.
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
When exercising this newfound authority, local officers must seek guidance from an ICE supervisor—but are allowed to do so “as soon as is practicable” after exercising the authority.
When exercising this newfound authority, local officers must seek guidance from an ICE supervisor—but are allowed to do so “as soon as is practicable” after exercising the authority.
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
When exercising this newfound authority, local officers must seek guidance from an ICE supervisor—but are allowed to do so “as soon as is practicable” after exercising the authority.
... arrest without a warrant anyone the officer believes “is in the United States in violation of law and is likely to escape before a warrant can be obtained”; execute warrants for immigration violations; and prepare immigration charging documents.
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
... arrest without a warrant anyone the officer believes “is in the United States in violation of law and is likely to escape before a warrant can be obtained”; execute warrants for immigration violations; and prepare immigration charging documents.
Officers who are trained, per the agreements, will gain the powers to “interrogate any alien or person believed to be an alien as to his right to be or remain in the United States” (cont)
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Officers who are trained, per the agreements, will gain the powers to “interrogate any alien or person believed to be an alien as to his right to be or remain in the United States” (cont)
DPS’ newly inked agreements mark a sea change in the program, with the state police agency employing nearly 5,000 commissioned officers.
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
DPS’ newly inked agreements mark a sea change in the program, with the state police agency employing nearly 5,000 commissioned officers.
The move marks a significant expansion of what are called 287(g) task forces in Texas. Since late January, around 50 law enforcement agencies have signed such agreements in the state—primarily rural county sheriff’s offices but also the Texas National Guard and the AG's office.
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
The move marks a significant expansion of what are called 287(g) task forces in Texas. Since late January, around 50 law enforcement agencies have signed such agreements in the state—primarily rural county sheriff’s offices but also the Texas National Guard and the AG's office.
Reposted by Francesca D'Annunzio
New incredible detail here: ICE says a match in its facial recognition app Mobile Fortify is a "definitive" determination of a person's status, and that this overrides birth certificates. This is an app ICE is using in the field to scan people
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
October 29, 2025 at 3:03 PM
New incredible detail here: ICE says a match in its facial recognition app Mobile Fortify is a "definitive" determination of a person's status, and that this overrides birth certificates. This is an app ICE is using in the field to scan people
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...