Travis County district attorney joins coalition to prosecute federal agents who break state law

February 15, 2026

A group of nine district attorneys came together on January 28 to form The Fight Against Federal Overreach, a coalition that vows to pursue state criminal cases if federal immigration agents break state law. The move followed heightened concern after two U.S. citizens died during encounters with federal immigration officers in Minnesota the previous month.

José Garza, who prosecutes felony cases in Travis County, is one of the coalition's founding members. Prosecutors from Dallas and Minneapolis are also involved, and members met recently with legal experts to map out strategies and next steps.

Coalition leaders say their work will focus on protecting public safety and restoring community confidence in the criminal justice system. They plan to coordinate litigation across jurisdictions and build a mechanism that will let people report alleged crimes and upload evidence to prosecutors.

The group also drafted policy demands aimed at lawmakers negotiating Department of Homeland Security funding, including a call to prohibit federal agents from entering homes without a warrant. Immigration attorney Ruby Powers said warrantless home entry violates the Fourth Amendment and that many unlawful searches and seizures have gone unreported because victims fear repercussions.

Garza identified practical hurdles for the coalition, including the large number of federal agents and their geographic spread, and limits on accessing federal evidence during parallel federal proceedings. He added that political resistance from the federal administration has complicated efforts to hold agents accountable.

Local law enforcement leaders in Austin have weighed in. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said her officers are expected to report or intervene if they see an agent commit a crime, and she emphasized that police have a duty to act when they witness unlawful behavior.

Despite the obstacles, Garza said the coalition intends to use state authority to prevent future abuses and to make it easier for community members to seek justice. He framed the effort as a responsibility of elected prosecutors to ensure safety and lawful conduct in their communities.