{"id":141551,"date":"2025-08-13T05:14:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-13T05:14:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/141551\/"},"modified":"2025-08-13T05:14:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T05:14:09","slug":"dallas-police-oversight-board-wants-answers-from-comeaux-on-the-citys-work-with-ice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/141551\/","title":{"rendered":"Dallas police oversight board wants answers from Comeaux on the city\u2019s work with ICE"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Dallas Community Police Oversight Board wants answers from Chief Daniel Comeaux about how the department is cooperating with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.<\/a> <\/p>\n

On Tuesday evening, the board agreed to ask Comeaux to join their next meeting and answer the community\u2019s and the board\u2019s questions. <\/p>\n

Related:City attorneys bar Dallas police chief from speaking about immigration<\/a><\/p>\n

Around 40 people showed up to the meeting to push the board to engage the Dallas Police Department. Community members said they want Dallas police to prohibit<\/a> voluntary cooperation with ICE without a judicial warrant, require quarterly public reports on interactions with ICE, ensure immediate notification of family members when someone is detained and issue a public statement from Dallas police leadership stating that they do not collaborate with federal agents.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe can\u2019t stop ICE from existing. What can we do? We can pass a strong city ordinance,\u201d Azael Alvarez said. \u201cThis isn\u2019t about politics. It\u2019s about trust. No one should be afraid to call 911.\u201d <\/p>\n

Residents made similar demands at a City Council briefing last week. <\/p>\n

Also Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Farmers Branch sent Comeaux a letter<\/a> asking for a detailed explanation of the DPD\u2019s current policy regarding its cooperation with ICE.<\/p>\n

She asked whether the department has agreements with ICE, has received funding, equipment, or resources from ICE or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and if DPD officers are ever stationed or assigned to work with ICE officers.<\/p>\n

Johnson requested a written response by Aug. 21. Corbin Rubinson, a DPD spokesperson, said the department received the letter and will respond. <\/p>\n

Multiple board members Tuesday said residents are afraid and want answers, and the board\u2019s job was to ask questions, even if the chief or the city attorneys don\u2019t want to answer. <\/p>\n

\u201cSchool is starting back, and children are going to school, and there will be situations where babies come home and their parents aren\u2019t there,\u201d said Jonathan Maples, District 2 board member. \u201cWe cannot be afraid to have to ask hard questions, and those who are in leadership positions can\u2019t be afraid to answer those questions.\u201d <\/p>\n

Comeaux, months into his tenure as the police chief, has been asked several times if the police department is helping ICE agents in a variety of circumstances. <\/p>\n

He has routinely said the department will help federal partners \u201cwhenever help is needed or requested.\u201d Nearly two months ago, during the last Community Police Oversight Board meeting, city attorneys ran interference when board members began asking Comeaux<\/a> similar questions.<\/p>\n

At the time, an assistant city attorney said the meeting was only for introductory questions and any questions about immigration policy were beyond the scope. That did not sit well with several board members, who said they had sent the police chief detailed questions prior to the meeting. <\/p>\n

The Dallas Police Department\u2019s current policies bar officers from stopping or contacting anyone solely to determine their immigration status. Officers can only ask people who are lawfully detained or arrested about their immigration status.<\/p>\n

Local law enforcement can arrest undocumented migrants through Section 287(g)<\/a>, a national program that deputizes local officers to assist ICE and carry out a limited number of immigration enforcement actions. Participation is currently voluntary in Texas. At least 51 law enforcement agencies in the state are enrolled.<\/p>\n

Related:ICE held migrants at Dallas office for days, families say, exceeding agency standards <\/a><\/p>\n

But Dallas police officials have not yet announced any plans to participate in the program.<\/p>\n

Taylor Jones, another speaker Tuesday, said she witnessed immigrants being detained and poorly treated at the federal courthouse in downtown Dallas.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen people see brutality instead of fairness, they stop trusting the law. They stop calling the police, reporting crimes and serving as witnesses,\u201d Jones said. \u201cYou have a choice: be the wolf or be the shepherd. Pretend you don\u2019t hear their cries or protect them.\u201d <\/p>\n