Greg Abbott Responds After Dallas Police Refuse to Join ICE Raids

Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott's office responded Thursday to news that his state's second-largest police department was not working with federal immigration enforcement agents, saying local officials should be complying.

The comments came after it was reported that Dallas Police Department officers had told immigrants at a church service Wednesday night that they understood concerns about President Donald Trump's immigration policies, according to CBS News.

City officials in Dallas referred Newsweek Thursday evening to a statement made in January, again saying that the police department would not engage in immigration enforcement.

Why It Matters

Texas has been among the focal points during the border strife of the past three years, with both Border Patrol and state forces facing thousands of illegal crossings by immigrants along the Mexico border. Abbott was vocal in his disapproval of former President Joe Biden, and his support for Trump's plans to tackle the issue.

Trump was elected following a campaign heavily focused on illegal immigration and border security. An AP-NORC poll, conducted from January 9 to January 13 among 1,147 adults, found that 83 percent of Americans back deporting migrants living in the U.S. illegally who have been convicted of a violent crime, while only 6 percent would oppose doing so.

What To Know

According to CBS, Dallas police have begun attending events with immigrant communities in the city, starting Wednesday, after concern grew among immigrants without legal status who have not committed additional crimes.

At one particular service at a church, interim Chief Michael Igo told those in attendance that his officers would not aid U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in its ramped-up operations. That included officers not detaining or reporting anyone who was undocumented who called 911 or was pulled over in traffic violations.

"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," he told the audience, while also saying that those with criminal warrants against them would likely be arrested.

Texas is home to at least 5.1 million immigrants, as of last analysis in 2022 by the American Immigration Council, and that number includes 1.8 million without legal status. That number has likely grown over the past few years.

Abbott viewed the previous White House administration as having failed on border security and set up his own border force under Operation Lone Star to patrol the Texas-Mexico border. While states do not have the power to enforce immigration law, Texas has been among the Republican states that have sought to push precedent to its limit.

The Trump administration has also made it clear that it wants all states to comply with its enforcement efforts, with lawsuits announced against Illinois and New York over the past week over local policies aimed at protecting immigrants.

What People Are Saying

Andrew Mahaleris, Abbott's press secretary, told Newsweek: "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.

"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."

Representative Keith Self of Texas told Newsweek in an interview: "There is some leeway from my county judge days in Collin County. However, I really caution people at the state and local level: Do not disobey federal law or [U.S. Attorney General] Pam Bondi is going to come after you, as she is against New York."

Igo, in a post to X on Wednesday: "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."

City of Dallas' January statement, sent to Newsweek on Thursday: "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."

What's Next

Dallas police are planning more events similar to the one held Wednesday night in the coming days.