This week, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson pushed forward a proposal that could have devastating, long-term consequences for communities across our city — especially our immigrant and Black and Brown residents.

In a memo to city council committees, Johnson urged a full public review of a $25 million offer from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which would enroll the Dallas Police Department in the controversial 287(g) program. Under this federal initiative, local police officers are trained and deputized as immigration agents, empowered to enforce immigration laws in the field through ICE’s Task Force model. While the mayor frames this as a win for public safety and fiscal efficiency, the reality is far more insidious — and rooted in a political loyalty that does not reflect the values of the majority of Dallas residents or its elected representatives.

Council Members Respond: “This Undermines Public Trust

Just minutes ago, Council Members Adam Bazaldua (District 7), Chad West, Jaime Resendez, and Paula Blackmon issued a joint statement publicly rebuking Mayor Johnson’s push for ICE collaboration. “We remain concerned with the practices being deployed by ICE agents through federal directives,” the statement reads.

“The 287(g) program would turn local law enforcement 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.”

Statement from D7 Councilman Adam Bazaldua Office on Mayor Eric Johnson’s support of ICE 287g program. Photo Credit: A. Bazaldua

Statement from D7 Councilman Adam Bazaldua Office on Mayor Eric Johnson’s support of ICE 287g program. Photo Credit: A. Bazaldua

Their position is clear: Dallas should not become a staging ground for the same ICE tactics that have sparked fear, trauma, and civil rights violations in cities like Chicago, Houston, and Austin.

ICE’s 287(g): A Force Multiplier for Harm

ICE’s Task Force model doesn’t just operate behind bars — it operates in the streets. It allows police officers to question, detain, and transfer individuals to ICE based on perceived immigration status, with little oversight or accountability. And it gives political cover to local leaders — like Governor Abbott — to continue using migrants as pawns in a culture war.

Mayor Johnson’s Partisan Alignment is Clear

Once again, Mayor Johnson — who changed his party affiliation to Republican in 2023 — is advancing a right-wing immigration agenda under the guise of fiscal responsibility. He is doing so without the support of his own City Council, without community input, and despite clear precedent from other major cities rejecting this exact program.

This is not leadership — this is ideological obedience.

Rather than stand with the immigrant communities who help build this city — through our schools, our businesses, our culture, our labor — the mayor is choosing to align with a federal agency known for racial profiling, unlawful detainment, and community intimidation.

What’s Happening Elsewhere? Let’s Learn from It.

In Chicago, ICE agents are already under scrutiny for unlawful detainments, while Texas law enforcement — dispatched by Abbott — are chasing migrants across state lines.

In Houston, data shows that ICE’s 287(g) involvement has led to detentions for minor traffic violations and exacerbated racial profiling. Local officials in Harris County have spoken out, citing broken trust and legal overreach.

The backlash is loud, bipartisan, and growing — everywhere except in Mayor Johnson’s office.

Dallas Must Take a Stand — Now

This is a defining moment for Dallas. As the Council Members’ statement eloquently puts it:

“Safer communities are built through trust and connection. DPD participating in this program would certainly undermine progress made.”

We cannot afford to walk backward into a policy that threatens the lives and dignity of so many of our neighbors.

Mayor Johnson’s request is expected to trigger a joint committee meeting where ICE representatives and Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux would brief council members on the 287(g) Task Force Model and the $25 million federal offer. Council members will then be tasked with evaluating whether the program would yield financial or public safety benefits without compromising community trust.

As the discussion moves forward, the divide between the mayor’s position and that of several council members—who have publicly questioned the alignment of the program with Dallas values—reflects a broader debate unfolding in cities across the country. The outcome could shape the future of local law enforcement’s role in federal immigration enforcement and impact how Dallas defines its approach to public safety and civil rights.

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