Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated an investigation into the City of Dallas, questioning its adherence to state and federal immigration laws. This action includes a formal request for records from the city regarding the Dallas Police Department's current policies.
Dallas Interim Police Chief Michael Igo recently stated that “[t]he Dallas Police Department is not assisting any federal agency on detaining people that are either documented or undocumented in the City of Dallas.” This statement has prompted concerns about potential violations of Texas law, which prohibits local governments from enacting sanctuary city policies that impede immigration enforcement.
The Office of the Attorney General has requested access to all related policies, training materials, and communications concerning Dallas's approach to immigration law enforcement. This includes documents indicating any decisions to refuse cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
“The law is not optional. Local governments do not have the authority to disregard state and federal immigration laws,” Attorney General Paxton emphasized. “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.”
For further details on the request, interested parties can click here.