“Good afternoon, thank you all for being here today. I want to take this opportunity to address the Dallas Police Department’s position on immigration enforcement, clear up any misconceptions, and reaffirm our commitment to serving and protecting all members of our community.
The Dallas Police Department remains steadfast in its mission to ensure the safety of every person. Our top priorities remain investigating crimes, responding to emergencies, and reducing violent crime in the communities we serve.
It is also important to clarify that the Dallas Police Department continues to fulfill all of its duties and obligations to enforce state and local laws-while protecting the constitutional rights of all people. This includes assisting all of the Department’s federal, state, and local law enforcement partners-as we always have-as needed.
The Dallas Police Department has not been asked by either state or federal law enforcement to participate in any immigration enforcement efforts. However, the Department has assisted and will continue to assist any agency in the arrest of a person wanted for a criminal offense, regardless of their immigration status.
The Department’s General Order regarding immigration remains in effect. In accordance with this regulation, Dallas officers will not, and I quote from our General Order, “stop or contact any person for the sole purpose of determining immigration status” and “are permitted, but not required, to ask about the immigration status only of those persons who are lawfully detained or arrested.” This General Order has been in effect since October of 2017.
Dallas officers are also bound by laws that prohibit the practice of racial profiling and are committed to protecting every individual’s civil rights.
Trust between law enforcement and the communities we serve is essential to public safety. All persons should know that they should never hesitate to report a crime, seek help, or cooperate with police. To quote again from our General Order regarding immigration: “Officers may not ask the immigration status of those who are victims, witnesses, or those who are reporting a crime, unless necessary to investigate the offense, or to provide information regarding federal visas designed for the protection of persons assisting law enforcement, or if the officer has probable cause that the victim or witness has engaged in specific conduct constituting a separate criminal offense.”
The Dallas Police Department is unwavering in its commitment to fairly enforcing state and local laws, protecting all community members, and upholding the values of justice and integrity. We will continuously monitor any changes to state or federal laws and fully comply with all existing and new legal requirements while promoting safety, trust, and cooperation within the Dallas community. And finally, to all Departmental employees, I am deeply grateful for your dedication, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to serving all our communities with fairness and integrity. It is a pleasure to serve alongside you.
Thank you.”
The Department’s General Orders can be viewed here . The Orders concerning Immigration are 315.04 and 432.06 .