The Dallas Police Department changed its immigration policy Thursday in response to pressure from Gov. Greg Abbott.
The new rules affirm police officers are allowed to provide enforcement assistance to immigration officers, ask a detained or arrested person's immigration status and share that status with ICE.
The change includes removing a provision that prevented officers from detaining someone longer to investigate the person's immigration status or contact ICE. Under the original policy, an officer was required to release someone after they had been processed for the initial reason they were stopped.
The change came after Gov. Greg Abbott threatened in a letter to pull nearly $90 million in state funding if the police department did not change General Order 315.04, which outlines how officers can handle immigration.
That funding includes more than $55 million in security funding for the FIFA World Cup — which is less than two months away — and more than $32 million in public safety grants.
City Manager Kimberly Tolbert responded in a letter Thursday the changes align DPD policy with state law while maintaining trust with the community.
"Although your letter does not specifically identify the portions of General Order 315.04 you find problematic, DPD has completed a review of General Order 315.04 and has revised certain provisions in the general order to further clarify DPD's continued compliance with state law regarding immigration enforcement," Tolbert wrote.
Abbott wrote in his letter General Order 315.04 violates a certification Tolbert agreed to last year as a condition to receive a $32 million public safety grant.
Abbott took issue with parts of the order that made it voluntary for police to ask someone about their immigration status or inform ICE about that status.
He also targeted the part of the order that prevented Dallas officers from detaining someone longer to investigate the person's immigration status or contact ICE. Under the order, an officer was required to release someone after they've been processed for the initial reason they were stopped.
At a press conference Wednesday, Texas Rep. Venton Jones, D-Dallas, defended the original General Order 315.04.
"The governor is characterizing DPD's local policy as interference with immigration enforcement, but that characterization is false," Jones said. "General Order 315.04 is a common-sense measure that provides clear guidance on stops, detentions and arrests. It does not violate state law. It does not prohibit cooperation with federal authorities. But what it does do is that it protects constitutional rights."
Abbott wrote in a late night post to X that cities agreed to collaborate with ICE last year when they agreed to the funding contract.
"After they got the money, the cities refused to comply with the contract terms," Abbott wrote. "Those terms include a requirement that the cities repay the state all the money they got if they don't comply with the contract."
Abbott has sent similar funding threats to Austin and Houston.
The governor began the standoff with the large cities after Houston approved an ordinance two weeks ago that prohibited police from prolonging traffic stops due to civil immigration warrants issued by ICE.
Abbott shortly after threatened to revoke about $144 million in public safety grants unless the measure was reversed. Attorney General Ken Paxton also launched a lawsuit against the city to stop the ordinance.
That ordinance was revised on Wednesday by the Houston City Council.
Abbott's press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, said the revision was "a step in the right direction after Houston leaders put public safety at risk with reckless policies that undermined law enforcement."
In a post on X directed toward Houston officials, Abbott said not collaborating with ICE is deadly.
"City Council must choose- vote for their citizens, or the criminals who kill them," Abbott wrote.
An analysis by KERA of data released by the Deportation Data Project this month showed the Dallas ICE Field Office arrested more people without a criminal history than those with convictions or charges from September to February — the last full month of data.
Dylan Duke is KERA's Breaking News Reporter. Got a tip? Email Dylan Duke at dduke@kera.org.
KERA News is made possible through the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, consider making a tax-deductible gift today. Thank you.
Copyright 2026 KERA News