Dallas on Thursday removed its ban on police officers prolonging a person’s detention during encounters like traffic stops to hold them for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents. It is the second city in Texas to revise its policy on local law enforcement’s cooperation with federal immigration authorities this week, amid massive funding threats from Gov. Greg Abbott.
On April 16, the governor’s office warned the city that more than $32 million in grants, as well as more than $55 million in World Cup public safety funding could be at risk — if Dallas police failed to change their general orders limiting officers’ coordination with ICE.
In response, Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux announced on Thursday that the department has updated its general order to affirm that local officers will “cooperate with federal authorities when required” while still protecting the safety of all residents.
In particular, the revised policy says it allows police officers to ask people for their immigration status when they are lawfully detained and share that information with federal authorities. It also does not ban Dallas police from supporting ICE agents as “reasonable or necessary,” including providing enforcement assistance.
More notably, the updated version left out language from the original general order that says officers “may not prolong the detention of an individual in order to further investigate the individual’s immigration status or to hold them for federal authorities.”
However, the policy still maintains that officers will not stop or contact people solely for the purpose of determining immigration status. Dallas police also may not ask victims, witnesses or people reporting crimes about their immigration status — unless it’s necessary for investigation or if there’s probable cause that they had engaged in a separate criminal offense.
“As Mayor of Dallas, public safety is my highest priority, and I agree with Governor Abbott that federal immigration enforcement plays a role in keeping our city safe,” Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said in a statement to The Texas Tribune. “I appreciate Chief Comeaux’s ensuring the Dallas Police Department’s internal policies reflect its longstanding practice of cooperating with all of our state and federal law enforcement partners, including those that enforce our nation’s immigration laws.”
Andrew Mahaleris, Abbott’s spokesperson, said in a statement that the governor’s public safety office is currently reviewing Dallas’ updated policy.
“As the City has begun making changes to meet the Governor’s expectations that its policies require full cooperation with DHS, the Public Safety Office has extended the deadline for complying with the certification and will continue to engage with the City,” Mahaleris said. Governor Abbott will continue to use every necessary tool to protect Texans.”
Prior to the updated policy, Democrats and community organizations in North Texas had released a joint letter on Wednesday pushing back against the governor’s threat to Dallas.
In addition, Houston has also updated its ICE ordinance and police department’s policy this week in response to a $114 million funding threat from the governor. Meanwhile, Austin — which has around $2.5 million in public safety grants at risk — has received a deadline extension.
“We hope to reach a resolution in the coming days,” Jenny LaCoste-Caputo, the city’s deputy chief communications director, told Austin Current.
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