Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux is standing by his decision to reject a $25 million partnership with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
This follows a memo from Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, issued last Friday, calling on elected officials to “explore the potential benefits of participating in the 287(g) program.” The program allows ICE to train local officers to assist with immigration enforcement.
NBC 5 spoke with Chief Comeaux after he spoke at a career expo at UNT Dallas on Friday. When asked about the mayor’s memo, he said:
“Look, the most important thing is, I want to take care of everyone in Dallas. We made a decision to make sure that we can respond to 911 calls, that we can make sure that violent crime will continue to go down, like it’s been going down here.”
Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown, also at the UNT event, said her office is not looking into joining any aspect of 287(g), which includes the Jail Enforcement Model, Task Force Model and Warrant Service Officer program.
“No, there are no additional efforts that we’re going to put into it,” Brown said.
NBC 5 requested an interview with Mayor Johnson. Instead, a spokesperson responded, saying the memo was not necessarily about the chief’s decision, but how it was made.
“He believes that that’s a conversation that should be had among the elected public officials in a public forum,” said spokesperson Benjamin Setnick.
In a joint statement, City Council members Chad West, Jaime Resendez, Adam Bazaldua and Paula Blackmon said 287(g) would turn officers “into an arm of federal immigration enforcement and could result in a betrayal of trust between the Dallas Police Department and the very communities they are sworn to protect.”
They said they support a public discussion, as requested by the mayor.
One City Council member told NBC 5 the topic could be discussed, and possibly voted on, at the council’s Nov. 6 meeting.
On Friday, more than 10 community groups gathered at Dallas City Hall to show support for Chief Comeaux’s decision.
“Police Chief Comeaux made the right decision not to hand over our community safety to a racist agenda,” one activist said.
Anita Nuñez with the Workers Defense Action Fund said the groups want to send a message ahead of the council forum.
“Our message is clear: We don’t want ICE in Dallas,” Nuñez said.
“Dallas has long affirmed its commitment to being a welcoming city and to fostering trust between our Dallas’ very diverse residents and our public institutions,” she added. “So we need council to stand by those values. We need them to send a clear message to everyone who’s watching right now, that you’ve got our backs.”
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