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More than 50 people with immigration detainers were booked into the Bastrop County Jail during the first three months of 2026, according to jail records.
A total of 55 detainees identified by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spent at least one night in the county jail during that period. Records show detainees are booked with a wide variety of charges alongside their ICE designations.
The most common offenses detainees are suspected of committing locally include driving while intoxicated, possession of a controlled substance and driving without a license. Many detainees face multiple charges.
Other recorded offenses include smuggling of persons, assault with a deadly weapon and sexual assault of a child.
Local agencies maintain they have limited interaction with ICE agents and are not notified in advance of federal operations within city limits.
Elgin Police Chief Chris Noble recently confirmed the only interaction the department has had with immigration enforcement was back in January. He previously said the department would assist any law enforcement agency, including ICE, if requested, but only within legal limits tied to criminal enforcement.
At the county level, Sheriff Maurice Cook said state law requires some cooperation with ICE, though the Sheriff ’s Office has no formal agreements with the agency. Jail staff have received training related to immigration detainees.
Protests mirroring nationwide movements have been carried out in Elgin, Bastrop and Smithville through the first quarter of the year. The demonstrations, including walkouts organized by Bastrop County students, were met with both criticism and praise from community members.
