Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux has responded to questions regarding immigration enforcement amid rising public concerns, stating that there has been no request for assistance from federal or state agencies this year.
In a letter dated August 20, addressed to U.S. Representative Julie Johnson, Chief Comeaux confirmed that the Dallas police have not cooperated with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of a broader immigration enforcement initiative.
The correspondence came in response to inquiries from Rep. Johnson, a Farmers Branch Democrat, who sought clarity on the police department’s collaboration with ICE following fears expressed by constituents and community oversight bodies.
Concerns over the partnership between local law enforcement and federal immigration agencies have been amplified by communities across Texas, including members of the Dallas Community Police Oversight Board, who indicated a desire to meet with Chief Comeaux to discuss such collaborations.
In his letter, Chief Comeaux reiterated that Dallas police do not have the authority to stop or question individuals solely to determine their immigration status, in accordance with city and state laws.
“By state law, local entities cannot prohibit or materially limit the enforcement of immigration laws,” Comeaux stated, reflecting previous public statements made by the city earlier this year concerning immigration enforcement.
He added that while local law enforcement agencies, including the Dallas Police Department, routinely interact with federal agencies, they will only assist upon specific request and remain compliant with applicable laws.
During a meeting with the Community Police Oversight Board earlier this year, city attorneys intervened when board members began raising questions about immigration enforcement collaboration. Attendees expressed concerns about potential chilling effects that such cooperation could instill in the immigrant community.
In the neighboring city of Houston, reports in July revealed that the actions of local police had raised alarms among immigration advocates, citing that over half of the calls made by the Houston police to ICE during the year originated from routine traffic stops.
Moreover, numerous local law enforcement agencies across Texas have entered into formal agreements, utilizing Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This section allows the Department of Homeland Security to train local officers to carry out certain immigration enforcement duties.
The majority of Texas participants in the 287(g) program are county sheriff’s offices, including those in Tarrant County.
Recently, Keller became the largest city in Texas to enter into such an agreement, a move that has caught the attention of various advocacy groups concerned about the implications of local-federal collaborations.
Despite the growing trend in neighboring jurisdictions, Chief Comeaux noted that the Dallas Police Department has not moved to explore or initiate any agreements—known as memorandums of understanding (MOUs)—with ICE or the Department of Homeland Security.
Additionally, come routine policing efforts, the department does not actively collect information regarding individuals’ immigration statuses. However, paperwork completed upon arrests at the Dallas County jail does ask about U.S. citizenship and the individual’s place of birth.
“If this information is provided to Dallas police officers by the arrestee, the officers will include this in the paperwork submitted to the Dallas County jail,” Comeaux mentioned in his letter.
The issue of immigration enforcement collaboration continues to be a contentious topic, with many advocates stressing the importance of trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities, amid ongoing discussions about local sovereignty and federal immigration laws.
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