ICE Detainers & Immigration Holds: What Happens in Dallas County
Explains what an ICE detainer means for someone arrested in Dallas County — how immigration holds affect the bail process, whether bail can still be posted, and the difference between a state charge and a federal immigration hold.
An ICE detainer, also known as an immigration hold, is a formal request from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office asking the jail to hold a defendant beyond the point when they would otherwise be released on their state criminal charge. When a defendant at Lew Sterrett Justice Center has an ICE detainer, the jail may hold them for up to 48 additional hours after their state bond is posted or their state case is resolved, giving ICE time to take the individual into federal custody. This means that even if a family posts bail on the state charge, the defendant may not be released from Lew Sterrett if an immigration detainer is in place.
Under Texas Senate Bill 8, which took effect on January 1, 2026, counties with a population over 100,000 — including Dallas County — are required to enter into formal 287(g) cooperation agreements with ICE. This law expanded immigration screening at local jails, meaning that a defendant’s immigration status may be checked during the booking process at Lew Sterrett. If ICE files a detainer, the defendant now faces two separate legal proceedings: the state criminal case handled at the Frank Crowley Courts Building, and the federal immigration case handled through the immigration court system. These are independent proceedings with different rules, different courts, and different forms of bail.
Families should understand that posting bail on the state charge is still possible and may still be advisable even when an ICE detainer exists, because resolving the state case favorably can affect the outcome of the immigration proceeding. However, the defendant will not walk out of Lew Sterrett after the state bond is posted if ICE has lodged a detainer. Immigration bonds are set by a federal immigration judge and are separate from the state bail amount. Navigating the intersection of state criminal charges and federal immigration holds is complex and requires coordination between a criminal defense attorney and an immigration attorney. For help posting bond on a state charge in Dallas County, call Act Quick Bail Bonds at (214) 744-1414.