DALLAS, TX – The Dallas Police chief and city mayor are reportedly at odds following the rejection of a $25 million grant from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) which would’ve required police to assist in enforcement operations, which the Dallas mayor accused the police chief of having gone rogue with the refusal without affording at least a hearing before the city council.
Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux revealed earlier in October that he had declined the $25 million grant from ICE during a meeting with the Community Police Oversight Board, telling the board at the time that he didn’t want Dallas Police officers in “uniform enforcing federal laws.”
“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 part of 287 G,” Chief Comeaux stated, adding, “And we said, absolutely no, not, no, that was me who said that. Turned it down… No one is going to be wearing a DPD uniform enforcing federal laws. It just won't happen.”
Chief Comeaux seemingly made his stance clear during the meeting before the board, emphasizing, “We as DPD are not doing any immigration enforcement. We don't have the authority to do that, nor have we done that, nor will we do that.”
While Chief Comeaux asserted that the Dallas Police Department doesn’t “have the authority” to enforce any aspect of immigration law, under normal circumstances that would be correct. However, the 287(G) partnership program with ICE, which Chief Comeaux admitted to refusing to participate in, would’ve given state and local police “authority to perform specified immigration officer functions,” which said program has been embedded in federal law for nearly 30 years.
Given the amount of money that the Dallas Police chief quickly disregarded, in tandem with pushing for greater collaboration with federal authorities, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson wasn’t exactly thrilled to learn about Chief Comeaux’s hasty refusal to participate in the ICE partnership program.
Mayor Johnson claims Chief Comeaux essentially consulted no one before unilaterally dismissing the sizable grant from the federal government, noting that the revenue alone would’ve been beneficial to both the city and police force.
A spokesperson for the mayor’s office highlighted that such matters, particularly ones which have a sizeable grant attached to them, should be reviewed before the public via the Dallas City Council so that all perspectives, alongside net negatives and positives, can be weighed before rendering such decisions.
“Mayor Johnson strongly believes that the Dallas City Council should have the opportunity to hear the details of ICE’s offer and to conduct an informed cost-benefit analysis of it,” a spokesperson for Mayor Johnson explained, adding, “The mayor has always prioritized public safety and fiscal responsibility, and in order to ensure thoughtful, informed decision-making, he referred this matter to City Council committees tasked with those priorities.”
Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux revealed earlier in October that he had declined the $25 million grant from ICE during a meeting with the Community Police Oversight Board, telling the board at the time that he didn’t want Dallas Police officers in “uniform enforcing federal laws.”
“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 part of 287 G,” Chief Comeaux stated, adding, “And we said, absolutely no, not, no, that was me who said that. Turned it down… No one is going to be wearing a DPD uniform enforcing federal laws. It just won't happen.”
Chief Comeaux seemingly made his stance clear during the meeting before the board, emphasizing, “We as DPD are not doing any immigration enforcement. We don't have the authority to do that, nor have we done that, nor will we do that.”
While Chief Comeaux asserted that the Dallas Police Department doesn’t “have the authority” to enforce any aspect of immigration law, under normal circumstances that would be correct. However, the 287(G) partnership program with ICE, which Chief Comeaux admitted to refusing to participate in, would’ve given state and local police “authority to perform specified immigration officer functions,” which said program has been embedded in federal law for nearly 30 years.
Given the amount of money that the Dallas Police chief quickly disregarded, in tandem with pushing for greater collaboration with federal authorities, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson wasn’t exactly thrilled to learn about Chief Comeaux’s hasty refusal to participate in the ICE partnership program.
Mayor Johnson claims Chief Comeaux essentially consulted no one before unilaterally dismissing the sizable grant from the federal government, noting that the revenue alone would’ve been beneficial to both the city and police force.
A spokesperson for the mayor’s office highlighted that such matters, particularly ones which have a sizeable grant attached to them, should be reviewed before the public via the Dallas City Council so that all perspectives, alongside net negatives and positives, can be weighed before rendering such decisions.
“Mayor Johnson strongly believes that the Dallas City Council should have the opportunity to hear the details of ICE’s offer and to conduct an informed cost-benefit analysis of it,” a spokesperson for Mayor Johnson explained, adding, “The mayor has always prioritized public safety and fiscal responsibility, and in order to ensure thoughtful, informed decision-making, he referred this matter to City Council committees tasked with those priorities.”
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