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Public Safety Commission reports APD does not carry out immigration enforcement; plans follow-up with department
Summary
Commissioner Neli Paulina Ramirez briefed the Downtown Commission that, per current understanding, the Austin Police Department does not participate in immigration enforcement; the commission plans to invite APD to a future meeting to ask about impacts on 911 reporting and to coordinate with the Immigrant Affairs Commission.
Commissioner Neli Paulina Ramirez briefed the Austin Downtown Commission on Sept. 17 that the Public Safety Commission’s current understanding is that the Austin Police Department does not participate in immigration-enforcement activity and that APD is notified when immigration-focused operations by other agencies will occur.
"What we know is, I mean, to be frank is really what the what the public knows. And that's that APD does not, participate in immigration enforcement activities," Ramirez said. She added that APD staff have acknowledged the department may be asked to perform traffic control or other limited support functions but not to carry out immigration enforcement.
The Public Safety Commission is preparing to hear directly from APD at a future meeting to ask questions about how the department communicates its role to the public and whether immigration-enforcement activity affects reporting to 911 or other calls for assistance. Ramirez said the commission is still developing metrics and questions to frame that discussion and is coordinating with the Immigrant Affairs Commission to understand ongoing work on related topics.
Commissioners raised concerns about public perception in media coverage and social posts that show uniformed officers near immigration operations, asking how APD will ensure the public understands the department’s role when it is providing limited logistical support.
The commission's next steps include inviting APD to present and continuing to develop ways to monitor and measure any impact on calls for service or reporting attributable to immigration enforcement activity in the city.
