Overview
- At a joint committee hearing, more than 70 speakers addressed the proposal, with almost all opposing participation in the 287(g) program.
- Chief Daniel Comeaux affirmed his decision to decline the invitation, citing risks to 911 response times, officer reassignments under federal oversight, and erosion of public trust.
- Comeaux said the $25 million was the maximum possible reimbursement requiring training for roughly 3,200 officers and at least one arrest by each, while also describing what he called a 50-arrests-per-day expectation.
- ICE officials denied that arrest quotas exist, said all officers would need training to reach the top reimbursement figure, struggled to detail implementation, and kept the offer open.
- Council members present voiced support for the chief’s decision, the city manager characterized it as an operational call, and Mayor Eric Johnson requested briefings to reconcile conflicting information.