Police Chief Daniel Comeaux previously said he turned down a $25 million deal to sign a 287(g) agreement. The mayor wants it to be reconsidered.
DALLAS — Community groups and activists rallied outside Dallas City Hall on Friday against a once-rejected deal between Dallas Police and federal immigration authorities that the mayor has asked to be reconsidered.
The so-called 287(g) agreement would give local police the ability to enforce some federal immigration law. Police Chief Daniel Comeaux said last week he rejected the $25 million proposal.
But Mayor Eric Johnson said in a memo days later that he believes the decision should not be made unilaterally and asked for city council members to consider the deal in a special meeting — now scheduled for November 6, according to the city calendar.
“There is nothing forcing Dallas to hand over its police to ICE. It would be incredibly harmful and short-sighted to do so,” said Jenny Sanchez with the Texas Civil Rights Project at the City Hall rally Friday.
Other speakers warned the agreement could lead to racial profiling, additional work for Dallas Police, civil litigation exposure and a decrease in trust between officers and the community.
“There’s a lot of fear from the immigrant community, there’s a lot of fear from communities of color,” said Executive Director of Somos Tejas Ramiro Luna. “We don’t want that threat coming to our city.”
A sample agreement for the ICE task force model, posted on the agency’s website, outlines functions local police can undertake if such an agreement is signed, including:
The right to ask any person believed to be in the country illegally about their right to be in the United States. The power to arrest any person suspected of being in the county illegally who may flee before a warrant can be obtained.The power to make arrests for immigration law violations.
A number of City Council members have issued statements opposing the agreement or expressing their views that Dallas Police should focus on enforcing state law, not federal immigration policy.
“I think there are enough memos that show at this point this is not something the Council would support,” said Council member Laura Cadena.
In a statement, Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux said:
“Our department is committed to serving Dallas by responding to 9-1-1 calls and proactively and aggressively targeting violent criminals. I have an open line of communication with our federal law enforcement partners, and our officers will continue to provide assistance when they are requested. We work alongside federal authorities to go after violent fugitives, drug traffickers, and domestic violence offenders to keep our neighborhoods safe. I want to be clear: we will not prevent any agency from conducting lawful activity in Dallas, but we will remain focused on our primary mission: responding to emergencies and continuing to fight violent crime in Dallas.”
The mayor’s office did not respond to a request for comment.