Immigration Policy in Harris County, TX (2026)

2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Harris County, Texas.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Harris County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Sanctuary Policy Preemption

Texas SB 4 (2017) prohibits any county, city, or sheriff from adopting sanctuary policies or refusing ICE detainers. Harris County is not a sanctuary jurisdiction and the Sheriff honors ICE detainer requests through the joint processing center.

Texas SB 4 Bans Sanctuary Policies; Harris County Complies

Few Restrictions

Tex. Government Code Sec. 752.053 (Policies and Actions Regarding Immigration Enforcement - "Sanctuary City" Ban, SB 4)

Sec. 752.053. POLICIES AND ACTIONS REGARDING IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. (a) A local entity or campus police department may not:(1) adopt, enforce, or endorse a policy under which the entity or department prohibits or materially limits the enforcement of immigration laws;(2) as demonstrated by pattern or practice, prohibit or materially limit the enforcement of immigration laws; or(3) for an...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

E-Verify Mandates

Texas has no statewide E-Verify requirement for private employers. State agencies and their contractors must use E-Verify under a 2014 executive order. Harris County requires E-Verify for its own workforce and many contracted vendors, but private businesses are not bound countywide.

No Texas E-Verify Mandate for Private Employers

Light Restrictions

Tex. Government Code Sec. 673.001-002 (E-Verify Program; State Agency Required to Verify Employees)

Sec. 673.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:(1) "E-verify program" means the electronic verification of employment authorization program of the federal Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (Pub. L. No. 104-208, reprinted in note, 8 U.S.C. Section 1324a), operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security, or a successor employment authorization progra...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Immigration Policy by City in Harris County

1 cities in Harris County have their own immigration policy rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.

HoustonPop. 2,304,580

2 verified rules • E-Verify Mandates, Sanctuary Policy Preemption

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