Dallas Mayor Met with ICE in Secret Before City Rejected Controversial Immigration Program

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson met with federal immigration officials in early September to discuss the city’s potential participation in the 287(g) program, which would allow local police to enforce federal immigration laws, according to records obtained by The Dallas Morning News.

The September meeting, attended by ICE officials including Latice Curry and Joshua Johnson, occurred weeks before the program became publicly debated. Johnson’s office disclosed the meeting in a November interview with CBS News, preceding a City Council joint session to discuss the proposal.

Police Chief Daniel Comeaux had already rejected a $25 million offer to join 287(g) in October, telling a police oversight panel that the program would strain resources and erode community trust. 

The 287(g) program, part of federal immigration enforcement policies, has drawn national attention as cities weigh the role of local law enforcement in immigration matters.

Following this disclosure, Johnson called for a public discussion, stating in a memo that the council should review all relevant information with input from residents.

Some council members expressed concern that the mayor’s meeting with ICE had not been communicated earlier. District 5 Council member Jaime Resendez told The Dallas Morning News, “Any effort by the mayor to explore 287(g) should have been disclosed to the full council from day one. The fact that this was kept quiet… raises serious concerns about the mayor’s honesty with both the council and the residents we serve.”

At the nearly six-hour joint session, the City Council unanimously rejected participation in 287(g), supporting Comeaux’s decision.