Daijiworld Media Network - Dallas
Dallas, Nov 28: Texas’ largest cities are charting different courses on cooperation with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) amid pressure from the Trump administration.
Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux declined an ICE request for local officers to assist in immigration enforcement, despite an offer of up to $25 million. The decision, backed by a City Council committee, was based on concerns that reallocating officers would harm ongoing crime reduction efforts and erode public trust. “It will not make Dallas any safer, because we are aggressively going after those who are committing violent crimes already,” Comeaux said.
Meanwhile, Houston has faced scrutiny after Mayor John Whitmire acknowledged some cooperation with ICE. While the Houston Police Department has no formal agreement with the agency, calls from officers to ICE, mostly following traffic stops, have surged 1000% since Trump’s re-election. Whitmire clarified that the department enforces state and city laws, not federal immigration, but officers are required to notify ICE if they encounter individuals with outstanding warrants listed in federal databases.
Texas law generally encourages cooperation, with sheriffs’ offices in counties over 100,000 required to partner with ICE by December 2026. The Trump administration is also offering reimbursements and incentives under its 287(g) program, which grants local officers authority to enforce immigration laws.
Comeaux, a former DEA agent, emphasized public safety and community trust as his top priorities, noting that Dallas will continue focusing on violent crime rather than federal immigration duties. Houston, with a larger immigrant population, remains under debate as local officials balance federal pressure with community concerns.
The contrasting approaches highlight the broader challenge for large US cities: cooperating with ICE may bring federal support, but could trigger backlash from residents, while refusal may invite increased federal enforcement presence.