In the heart of North Texas, a critical message echoed through the Latino community.

A police lieutenant named Eddie Reyes recorded a video.  He did so in Spanish.  He told people not to be scared of the police.  He said, "Don't worry about what's happening now. "  He pleaded with them to keep living their lives normally.  He wanted them to keep reporting crimes.

A crackdown by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sent shockwaves through the area.  It happened in late January 2025.

ICE detained 84 people in North Texas.  They were suspected of crimes ranging from low-level to serious offenses.  This action was part of President Trump's tough stance on immigration.

The crackdown had a major impact on the community.  Some people felt anxious and fearful.  They worried about their immigration status.  They worried about racial profiling.  They worried about increasing mistrust of law enforcement.

Police officials in North Texas were concerned.   They were concerned that the crackdown would make it harder to fight crime.  They were concerned that it would affect their ability to build trust with diverse communities.  They knew that local police did not typically get specialized training on immigration enforcement.

News about ICE's efforts spread quickly.  Police agencies in North Texas released statements.  They wanted to reassure the community.  They wanted to make it clear that they were committed to serving everyone.  They said: "We will continue to serve all our residents without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or other protected categories. "  This statement was from the city of Dallas.

Reyes spoke directly to the community.  He told them: "Please, have patience and try to calm down. "  He encouraged them to ignore misinformation.  He assured them that the police were there to protect them.  They were not there to enforce immigration laws.

Police agencies in the area were working hard.  They were trying to ease concerns about the immigration crackdown.  They were focused on violent crimes.  They were working with federal authorities to detain migrants accused of violent crimes.  They were trying to make arrests in a safer way.

Tyler Owen, a communications manager, said that local officers were not changing how they police.  He said that they were working with task forces.  These task forces had been created in years past.  They were helping to make arrests.

But the rhetoric was having a trickle-down effect.  It was causing confusion and fear.  Local officers were having to sort through misinformation.  They were having to balance these challenges while maintaining a community policing presence.  They had to show the empathy and sympathy expected of them.  They had to reassure people that they were there to protect them.

Gregory Smith, director of the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration, said that local law enforcement operates on the same principles as a fire service.  He said: "They are there to protect people.  They are there to put out a fire. "  He said that police view crime similarly.

Smith said that local law enforcement agencies are going to follow the law.  But they have completely different missions from federal authorities.  He said that local law enforcement agencies are constantly in contact with people.  He said that they have community outreach programs.  He said that they are there to protect and serve, not to enforce immigration laws.

Fear Not the Badge

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