How does the Lewisville Police Department enforce federal immigration law?
A. For many years, we have worked cooperatively with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) branch of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to identify criminal offenders wanted by the federal government for immigration or other charges. The Lewisville Police Department is currently screening every person arrested and admitted to the city jail to assess their citizenship/immigration status. If we are unable to determine their legal status, we call ICE and request a review of their records and databases. ICE may interview the individual and may issue a detainer for that individual, in which case they are held for transfer to ICE custody. Illegal offenders charged with serious state crimes will normally remain in local or state custody until trial. If ICE does not issue a detainer for a person, then we have no choice but to process them through the justice system as with any other arrestee.
