Police in Dallas, Texas, will not assist in Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) deportation efforts.
Dallas Police Department (DPD) Interim Chief Michael Igo announced, “The Dallas Police Department is not assisting any federal agency on detaining people that are either documented or undocumented in the city of Dallas.”
“I need you guys to continue to call the police, to not be afraid to come out of your homes to go to work, to send our kids to school,” Igo told attendees of the church Familia Bethel Internacional.
In a statement on X, Igo said, “There’s no room for fear in our community. I am meeting with stakeholders across Dallas to reassure them we’re here to serve and protect all Dallas residents, and are committed to enforcing city ordinances and state laws.”
Igo’s statement comes as Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a lawsuit against those who are avoiding compliance with federal law. The lawsuit alleges that New York officials have enacted policies that shield illegal immigrants from federal immigration enforcement, violating the law and endangering public safety.
After Iowa’s Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx made similar remarks, the state’s Attorney General, Brenna Bird, launched an investigation into the matter.
Marx recently shared a statement on Facebook, saying of ICE detainers, “If their actions or paperwork are not within constitutional parameters (such as non-judicially vetted ‘detainers,’ which are very different than warrants and are simply an unconstitutional ‘request’ from ICE or other three letter federal agency to arrest or hold someone), then we will make every effort to block, interfere and interrupt their actions from moving forward.”
Despite the Dallas police refusal to assist ICE, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced efforts to partner with the federal government in migrant deportations.
