Our good friends at The Dallas Express published a story last Friday that should concern anyone who values safety and security. They reported that Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux rejected a multi-million-dollar offer to assist federal immigration law enforcement.

The $25 million grant was related to the DHS/ICE 287(g) program, which has three models designed to improve cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE. What makes this even more troubling is that the rejection comes at a time when the Dallas City Council has already fallen short in properly resourcing and staffing the police department.

As if it were a badge of honor, Chief Comeaux proudly stated that his response to the offer was, “We said, absolutely not, no.” He even reiterated that it was he himself who turned the offer down.

Let’s not forget—this comes right after the news of a criminal illegal immigrant who should have been deported but instead beheaded a hotel manager here in Dallas. It seems Chief Comeaux is more interested in winning the hearts and minds of Marxist leftists who support open borders and sanctuary for illegal immigrants than he is in protecting the citizens of Dallas.

To make things clear: Title 18 U.S.C. §1325 criminalizes the unauthorized entry of persons into the United States. It is a federal offense—period. And Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution, the Guarantee Clause, assigns to the federal government the responsibility to “protect every State from invasion.”

Therefore, it is unlawful and unconstitutional for any jurisdiction—city, county, or state—to declare itself a “sanctuary” for illegal immigrants. Doing so makes that government complicit in a crime. For a law enforcement agency such as the Dallas Police Department, already woefully short of its mandated number of trained officers, to refuse a grant that would help them uphold the law is not only folly—it’s grounds for termination or resignation.

Chief Comeaux was quoted as saying:

“Right now, we have had very little interaction with ICE on anything. That’s the truth about what is happening in Dallas right now. I have a very good relationship with ICE, and they have not requested our assistance to go out and assist with them in the streets.”

In other words, Chief Comeaux is reactive, not proactive. If he isn’t asked, he won’t act. That’s not leadership—it’s complacency.

Meanwhile, criminal groups like Tren de Aragua are proliferating in North Texas, and domestic terrorist groups such as the Elm Fork John Brown Gun Club—associated with Antifa—are operating openly. Add to that credible intelligence reports that transnational narco-terrorists are placing bounties on federal agents, with help from Antifa networks. They are not waiting to be “asked” to act.

Across Texas, 185 law enforcement agencies participate in the 287(g) program, including the Denton and Tarrant County Sheriff’s Offices and multiple DFW-area agencies. Yet Dallas—and by extension, Dallas County—appears to be quietly establishing itself as a sanctuary for criminal illegal immigrants.

Chief Comeaux himself admitted as much while trying to “debunk rumors” that DPD was working with ICE:

“Some of the things that are being posted and said are just absolutely not true. It is not happening in Dallas.”

Translation: Dallas PD is not working with ICE.

So what happens when law enforcement officials decide for themselves which laws they will enforce? Shouldn’t Chief Comeaux welcome assistance that would make Dallas safer?

I recently saw a social media post from DPD about “spreading happiness and joy.” That’s nice—but law enforcement’s primary role isn’t to spread happiness; it’s to uphold the law. I’m certain the beheaded hotel manager would have been very happy just to be alive.

It’s unconscionable—and would be laughable if it weren’t so serious—that so many fail to understand the law. The same people who cheered as millions crossed our border illegally are now outraged that the current administration is trying to follow the law. What’s worse are law enforcement officials who side with the open-borders mob against the rule of law they swore to uphold.

My question for Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux is simple:
When did enforcing the law become a matter of situational ethics and ideological agendas?

We are either a nation of laws—or we are a nation of chaos. The last thing Dallas residents need, especially with already slow response times, is an ideologically driven police department.

Then again, remember: the city council you vote for is the city council you deserve.

Steadfast and Loyal,
Col. Allen B. West

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