The Dallas Police Department (DPD) has begun a series of community meetings to inform immigrant residents that the department will not participate in deportation raids or arrests carried out by federal authorities.

According to the department’s Facebook page, at least five meetings are scheduled, with the first taking place on Wednesday and the rest continuing through February 20.

During the initial meeting at Familia Bethel Internacional church, Interim Chief Michael Igo sought to ease concerns that DPD would assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in deportation efforts, which have intensified under the Trump administration.

“The Dallas Police Department is not assisting any federal agency on detaining people that are either documented or undocumented in the city of Dallas,” Igo told attendees, according to CBS News.

Igo, who has led the department since October, assured Spanish-speaking residents that police would not report individuals in the country illegally if they call 911 for help or are stopped for minor traffic violations.

“I need you guys to continue to call the police, to not be afraid to come out of your homes to go to work, to send our kids to school,” he said.

He also emphasized that no arrests or raids would take place in churches, schools, or hospitals but noted that individuals with outstanding warrants could still face deportation.

Igo reiterated his stance on X, stating, “There’s no room for fear in our community. I am meeting with stakeholders across Dallas to reassure them we’re here to serve and protect all Dallas residents and are committed to enforcing city ordinances and state laws.”

This is not the first time Igo has made remarks distancing the department from federal immigration enforcement. Last month, he posted a video message on X affirming that all residents would be treated equally, regardless of immigration status.

His comments come as newly sworn-in Attorney General Pam Bondi Trump filed a lawsuit Wednesday against New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James, accusing them of failing to comply with federal immigration laws.

Dallas, one of the largest U.S. cities with a Republican mayor, has seen an 8.2% decline in violent crime in 2024, including a 26% drop in homicides compared to the previous year. According to DPD data, the city recorded 65 fewer murders than in 2023, bringing the homicide rate to its lowest level since before the pandemic.