Sanctuary Policy Preemption: Arlington vs Keller
How do sanctuary policy preemption rules compare between Arlington, TX and Keller, TX?
Arlington and Keller have similar restriction levels.
Arlington, TX
Tarrant County
Arlington is not a sanctuary city. Texas SB 4 (2017) bars cities, counties, and police departments from limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities or refusing to honor ICE detainer requests.
View full Arlington rules →Keller, TX
Tarrant County
Texas Government Code Chapter 752, enacted by Senate Bill 4 in 2017, prohibits any local entity, campus police department, or jail from adopting sanctuary policies. Local officials must honor federal immigration detainer requests and may not bar officers from inquiring about immigration status.
View full Keller rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Arlington | Keller |
|---|---|---|
| Sanctuary status | Not a sanctuary city | - |
| Governing law | Texas SB 4 (2017) | Gov Code Chapter 752 |
| Penalty per day | Up to $25,500 | - |
| Detainers honored | Yes via Tarrant Co Jail | - |
| Enacting bill | - | SB 4 (2017) |
| Detainer requests | - | Must be honored |
| First-violation penalty | - | $1,000 to $1,500 |
| Removal from office | - | Available remedy |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Arlington FAQ
Can Arlington police ask immigration status?
Yes. Under Texas SB 4, officers may inquire about immigration status during lawful detentions and arrests. The city cannot adopt a policy forbidding such questions.
Where are people transferred to ICE?
Through the Tarrant County Jail, which honors ICE detainer requests. Arlington Police book most arrestees into the Tarrant County system, where federal screening occurs.
Keller FAQ
Can a Texas city declare itself a sanctuary city?
No. Government Code Chapter 752, enacted by SB 4, expressly prohibits Texas local entities from adopting sanctuary policies, refusing ICE detainers, or barring officers from asking about immigration status, with civil penalties and removal from office for violations.
Does SB 4 require local police to ask about immigration status?
It does not require asking, but it forbids any policy that prohibits officers from inquiring about a lawfully detained person's immigration status or from sharing that information with federal authorities, including ICE and CBP.
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