Dallas Leaders Disagree on Immigration Partnership

In Dallas, city officials are divided on whether to collaborate with federal immigration authorities. Mayor Eric Johnson has sharply criticized Police Chief Daniel Comeau for turning down a $25 million partnership offer from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Johnson, who has previously expressed support for efforts to deport undocumented immigrants involved in violent crimes, sent a letter to City Council leaders. In it, he condemned Comeau’s unilateral decision, stating it deserves public examination. He argued that a partnership with ICE could bring valuable revenue to both the city and its police department.

Last week, Comeau announced that he had rejected the federal offer, marking a significant departure from earlier commitments to enhance cooperation with federal agencies. He mentioned in a recent meeting with the Community Police Oversight Board that the Dallas Police Department (DPD) opted out of joining the ICE program aimed at targeting undocumented immigrants.

“We were approached by the federal government in the past week, and they offered us $25 million under the 287G program. I was the one who said, absolutely not,” Comeau stated. He emphasized that enforcement of federal law would not involve DPD personnel, asserting that his department does not engage in immigration enforcement and has no authority to do so.

Despite this stance, Comeau reassured that DPD is dedicated to collaborating with federal authorities to apprehend violent fugitives and tackle drug-related crimes while keeping the focus on community safety. “We will not obstruct any lawful operations by federal agencies in Dallas,” he added.

Recently, four City Council members spoke out in favor of the mayor, reinforcing the idea that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, not a local one. They expressed concern that participating in ICE’s program could damage trust between the DPD and the communities it serves.