DALLAS — Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson has written a memo to two members of the City Council, Public Safety Committee Chair Cara Mendelsohn and Government Efficiency Committee Chair Maxie Johnson, requesting a joint meeting and a public review of Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux’s decision not to partner with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to authorize his officers to enforce immigration laws.
The partnership is reported to be worth $25 million to the city and would have come as part of ICE’s 287(g) program, or the Delegation of Immigration Authority Section 287(g) Immigration and Nationality Act. According to the ICE website, “The 287(g) program allows ICE — through the delegation of specified immigration officer duties — to enhance collaboration with state and local law enforcement partners to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of aliens who undermine the safety of our nation’s communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws.”
In the memo, Johnson said, “Clearly, participation in ICE’s Task Force Model could offer substantial financial benefits to Dallas. These funds could be used to hire additional officers without impacting the city’s budget. Declining ICE’s offer may mean forfeiting significant financial resources.”
He is seeking briefings from ICE representatives and Comeaux, as well as public input on the idea. Ultimately, the decision would then be moved to the City Council for a vote.
In the meeting of the Community Police Oversight Board, where he first addressed the potential partnership, Comeaux said, “We were contacted by the federal government, I think it was last week, or within the last two weeks, and we were offered $25 million to be a part of 287(g) and we said, absolutely not — no.”
Over 140 law enforcement agencies in Texas have signed agreements with ICE for 287(g) partnerships. Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 8 into law this year requiring every Texas sheriff’s office with a jail to sign an agreement with ICE by Dec. 1, 2026.