After learning that the Dallas Police Department was not working with federal immigration agents, Gov. Greg Abbott insisted local officials should be complying with enforcement.
As recently reported in The Dallas Express, the Dallas Police Department has been engaging with local residents of North Texas to alleviate fears about contacting law enforcement. Specifically, the Dallas Police Department has reassured citizens that it is not working directly with organizations like ICE.
In response, Abbott said local law enforcement should be working together with their federal peers.
“There’s a lot of false information on social media about the Dallas Police Department working directly with ICE and others. That’s not true,” said Lt. Eddie Reyes of the Dallas PD, per NBC.
Gov. Abbott was a long-time critic of the former administration’s immigration policy and has been a vocal supporter of President Trump’s more active posture. Earlier this month, Gov. Abbott offered up 4,000 prison cells in Texas to house illegal aliens who are apprehended under ICE operations.
Texas is on the frontlines of the battle against stopping the flow of illegal aliens from entering the United States.
However, at one recent community engagement event, interim Dallas Police Chief Michael Igo posted a video to social media that appeared to reassure those without documented citizenship that they could feel safe in 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 said during the event, per Newsweek.
The American Immigration Council said that, as of the last assessment in 2022, the Lone Star State was home to at least 5.1 million immigrants, including 1.8 million, or more than one-third, who were without legal status.
“Governor Abbott fully supports using every tool and strategy to aid in the Trump Administration’s deportation of illegal immigrants, and city and county officials across the state should fully cooperate in those efforts,” Andrew Mahaleris, Gov. Abbott’s press secretary, told Newsweek.
“The Governor directed all state agencies to coordinate with the Trump Administration on border security and deployed Department of Public Safety tactical strike teams to support homeland security operations in Dallas and across the state.”
The City of Dallas also commented on the situation, indirectly implying the Dallas Police Department is not responsible for immigration enforcement, per a response sent to Newsweek.
“The federal government is primarily responsible for enforcing immigration laws. The City of Dallas and the Dallas Police Department (DPD) will continue to be responsive to community needs and promote public safety for residents. DPD will continue to enforce city and state laws while upholding the constitutional rights of residents.”