Texas AG Paxton Opens Probe on Dallas Police for Refusing to Cooperate with ICE: 'The Law is Not Optional'

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into whether the Dallas Police Department is refusing to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.

In a formal statement, Paxton emphasized that compliance with immigration laws is mandatory:

"The law is not optional. Local governments do not have the authority to disregard state and federal immigration laws. The people of Texas expect law enforcement agencies to uphold public safety, not to implement sanctuary policies that put our communities at risk. My office will take all necessary legal actions to ensure compliance with state law and hold accountable any local entity that defies its legal obligations"

The inquiry follows comments made by Interim Police Chief Michael Igo, who has been vocal about his office's position on the issue, announcing back in February that the force will not participate in immigration enforcement actions led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), opting instead to hold community outreach meetings to reassure immigrant residents.

"The Dallas Police Department is not assisting any federal agency on detaining people that are either documented or undocumented in the city of Dallas," Igo said in one of the meetings which were captured in a widely circulated video, doubling down on the comments on his X account:

Igo's position has drawn criticism from prominent conservatives, including Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. Speaking on Fox News, Patrick characterized the remarks as defiance of federal law and suggested that state lawmakers could pursue legislation requiring law enforcement agencies to enter into formal agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Dallas city officials have not publicly opposed Paxton's investigation. City spokesperson Richard Ericson said, "We are reviewing the letter received from the Texas Attorney General's Office and will respond at the appropriate time," The Dallas Morning News reports.

The Dallas Police Department has maintained that its focus remains on crime prevention rather than immigration enforcement. In response to growing concerns among immigrant communities, the department has initiated outreach events through its Latino Community Outreach Program, UNIDOS.

These events, held in collaboration with the Office of Community Police Oversight and local faith-based organizations, aim to reassure residents and dispel misinformation about the department's role in immigration enforcement.

Igo has reiterated that while the department does not proactively enforce immigration laws, individuals with active criminal warrants could still face arrest. "If somebody did commit a crime a long time ago and there's still a warrant for that person, there's a very good chance they may be taken for that," he stated back in February.

Paxton's office has given the City of Dallas ten business days to provide the requested documentation as the investigation continues. Under Texas law, local governments found in violation of the state's 2017 immigration enforcement policies could face financial penalties.