Dallas oversight board votes to send chief a letter seeking clarity on police role in immigration enforcement

The Community Police Oversight Board voted 11–4 in a special meeting on Friday evening to send a written request to Dallas Police Chief Eddie Como asking him to clarify the Dallas Police Department—s role in operations involving federal immigration authorities and to outline the department—s legal and operational parameters.

Board Chair John Mark Davidson said the letter responds to a terse reply the board previously received and that the board wanted the chief to have time to review the request before he attends the board—s regular meeting on Tuesday. "If it's the board's decision at this time to send a letter to him, we would like to send that letter early next week, Monday morning, to give him adequate time to read the letter at the meeting on Tuesday," Davidson said.

The letter was approved after a motion to discharge the policy committee from further consideration of the draft so the full board could act. The motion to discharge the committee was moved by Tim Jackson and seconded by Dr. Lauren Gilbert Smith. Judge C. Victor Lander moved to send the draft letter; Shonga Higgins seconded that motion. The roll-call vote recorded 11 yes and 4 no; board members may elect whether to add their names to the final letter.

Boardmembers offered a range of views during more than an hour of discussion. Several members asked that the letter not only request clarification but also set specific expectations for when DPD should not collaborate with federal immigration authorities. Brandon Friedman (District 14) read a proposed list of criteria and asked the board to include standards such as immediate cessation of collaboration if federal agents operate "in Dallas under legally murky conditions," including "attempts by state and federal law enforcement agencies to use escalatory force that runs contrary to the DPD code of conduct, to search or seize individuals without judicial warrants, [or] to detain or arrest individuals without first properly identifying themselves or while concealing their faces." Friedman said those actions would justify a pause in cooperation.

Allison Grinter Allen (District 9) urged the board to seek tangible, lawful steps the chief could adopt, including prohibiting the use of public-safety footage for facial-recognition screening of protesters and reducing fingerprinting and booking practices that trigger ICE notifications. "It is never relevant when investigating state crimes to ask anybody about their immigration status," Grinter Allen said, adding that alternatives such as cite-and-release can reduce unnecessary bookings that put people into immigration databases.

Several members asked the chief to seek an opinion from the city attorney and report back. Dee Wadsworth (District 12) said she wanted "clarification from the city manager" and that the chief should consult the city attorney to confirm departmental compliance with applicable rules, regulations and guidelines.

Not all members agreed the board should send the letter before speaking with the chief in person. David Kettner (District 13) and Jenny King (District 10) said the initial one-line response from the chief — essentially "I will follow the law" — was insufficient but that the board should use its Tuesday meeting to question the chief directly and gather more information before finalizing more prescriptive demands.

Chair Davidson told the board he would respect the majority vote and would not send a letter alone if the board opposed it. He said the office would facilitate sending the approved letter and that board members should submit any additional questions to staff by Sunday so members could also address them when the chief appears on Tuesday.

Votes at a glance: The board first voted to discharge the policy committee from consideration of the draft letter (motion moved by Tim Jackson; seconded by Dr. Lauren Gilbert Smith; vote recorded as passing). The board then voted to approve and send the draft letter to Chief Como (motion moved by Judge C. Victor Lander; seconded by Shonga Higgins), with a roll-call result of 11 in favor and 4 opposed. The board recorded that individual members may choose whether to add their names to the letter.

The board—s discussion included references to a recent multiagency operation (reported in local media) in which the DPD fugitive task force assisted U.S. Marshals and reportedly made 98 arrests beginning May 1, three of which had ICE holds. Several members said that example illustrated the need for clearer guidelines on collaboration.

The board adjourned at 6:52 p.m.