8 May 21 - 27, 2026 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents constable and four code and compliance officers arrived shortly after they began setting up at 11 a.m. Organizers were told they needed to vacate the sidewalk because of their tables, even though she said that hadn’t been an issue prior to that day. “We were confused. There was no sign, email or anything. And it’s not like we don’t talk to those people,” Jones said. “We talk to them every other Sunday for a good five minutes. It’s usually about, ‘Hey, what are you doing? What’s the name? Are you regis- tered? How many people are you going to serve?... That’s usually it. That’s always the only question. It’s never about, “‘No, you can never serve here.’” Dallas has had the same regulations on feeding the homeless since 2014, when the city settled a lawsuit after trying to clamp down on churches and nonprofits distribut- ing food downtown. The rules stipulate that organizations must notify the city in ad- vance, keep food within safe temperature ranges and bring ample supplies to clean up after the event. However, those guidelines weren’t the is- sue on May 10. Officials cited a section of the Dallas City Code governing street vendors and gave the group about 45 minutes to clear the sidewalk. Specifically, the code ref- erenced prohibits vendors from using tables or stands, “any part of which touches the ground,” it reads. Less than half of the food and hygiene materials were distributed during a rushed handout before organizers finished packing up, Jones said. Organizers tried to talk to the city repre- sentatives, but were not given many options past vacating the sidewalk, Jones said, who added their exit was “essentially what they always wanted.” “It’s not frustrating like ‘Oh, that darn city,’” Jones said. “It’s like the lack of com- munication, it’s the lack of readiness on their part; I feel like they weren’t ready for our questions.” City Looks at Street Feeding The city did not return requests for com- ment. In a 2025 Dallas Morning News inter- view, however, City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert called street feeding “problematic.” “All the trash is left on the street,” Tolbert told the Morning News. The City Council has been debating whether to impose stricter regulations on food distribution in recent weeks. On April 25, council members declined to pass a mo- tion requiring groups to apply for a permit with more food safety guidelines, and in- stead pushed the discussion back to the committee level. Along with littering, food safety is also central to the debate over street feeding. Code representatives and council members have raised concerns over food temperatures and handling at the largely outdoor distribu- tions. There are normally two volunteers with food handler certifications at Sandwich Sundays, Jones said, who make sure tem- peratures are checked and gloves are worn. Organizers met the next night to discuss next steps. Sandwich Sundays will continue at the same location, she said, albeit without tables and streamlined with ready-made bas- kets to keep the total time under 30 minutes. In a release, People of Dallas Houseless Aid warned that the city is pushing smaller groups “toward established city-adjacent organizations,” and that “independent mu- tual aid is being pressured toward institu- tionalization.” Jones said she feels the timing of the city’s sudden urgency to enforce longstanding rules isn’t coincidental and also pointed to a major event coming up in North Texas this summer as potentially motivating officials. “The timeline of what they’re doing fits within the timeline of when they announced the cities of the World Cup around 2024,” Jones said, referring to when it was an- nounced that North Texas would host nine World Cup matches this year, more than any other city. “Guess what happened in 2024? Police started showing up, asking about per- mits or all that stuff.” ▼ DALLAS POLICE BIG D BORDER CROSSINGS? LAW DEPUTIZING POLICE FOR IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT MAY FINALLY TAKE EFFECT. BY EMMA RUBY A Texas law passed in 2023 that al- lows local law enforcement to ar- rest individuals suspected of entering the country illegally is expected to soon go into effect. Senate Bill 4 will make illegally crossing the southern border a misdemeanor punish- able by local law enforcement. Notably, dep- uties are charged with arresting individuals who are suspected of having crossed the border illegally, even if it is not immediately known if they actually did so. Traditionally, immigration enforcement has been handled by federal authorities. SB 4 was passed by the state Legislature during a special session three years ago in response to the record number of illegal bor- der crossings taking place at the time. Al- most immediately after being signed off on by Gov. Greg Abbott, the law was thrust into legal limbo. Last month, the conservative 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Or- leans lifted the injunction that had pre- vented the bill from taking effect. The decision has been met with celebra- tion by Texas’ conservative leaders and an- ger by immigration advocacy groups. “Texas’ right to arrest illegals, protect our citizens, and enforce immigration law is fundamental,” Attorney General Ken Paxton said. “This is a major win for public safety and law and order.” On May 4, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas (ACLU) filed a class action lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining or- der blocking SB 4 from going into effect. Ad- vocates have warned that the law could lead to family separations and racial profiling if implemented as written. The organization is specifically asking that the parts of the law that define reentry of the U.S. as a crime, even if a person has re- entered with federal authorization, and that call for state magistrate judges to issue de- portation orders, be stopped. “SB 4 would transform our police and judges into immigration agents — threaten- ing neighbors who have families here, who have lived here for years, even those who have legal status,” said Adriana Piñon, legal director at the ACLU of Texas, in a state- ment. “Immigration enforcement is exclu- sively the federal government’s arena, and no state has ever claimed the power Texas threatens to wield here.” SB 4 could be blocked by a court yet again. The uncertainty complicates how local po- lice departments are preparing for the new policy, especially in non-border cities where police have historically not had to interact significantly with immigration enforcement. Other complicating factors are Abbott and Paxton’s recent threats against Houston, Austin and Dallas for perceived noncompli- ance with a 2017 law, also known as Senate Bill 4, that prohibits departments from adopting policies that “materially limit the enforcement of immigration laws.” The threats have forced officials in all three cities to walk back policies intended to limit police interaction with federal immigration agents. In Garland, officials are waiting to see if SB 4 will go into effect, at which point they plan to “work closely with the City Attor- ney’s Office to evaluate the law and deter- mine appropriate policies and practices, including how it applies to a municipality that is not located on the border,” the de- partment said in a statement. “As with any legislative change that is sub- ject to ongoing legal challenges, the depart- ment will monitor court rulings and adjust its approach as necessary to remain in compli- ance while continuing to serve the commu- nity responsibly,” the statement also read. Similarly, an Irving Police Department spokesperson said the agency is “monitor- ing” developments with SB 4, including the ACLU’s filed lawsuit. In a statement, the spokesperson added that while the depart- ment “will follow the law,” it also “remains committed to serving and protecting” Ir- ving’s residents, and it “values the diversity of our community.” In a statement, the Arlington Police De- partment said that officers “regularly collab- orate with other regional, state and federal law enforcement agencies” as part of a mis- sion to reduce crime and build community relationships. “APD has and will continue to work with our federal partners to remove violent of- fenders and other criminals who threaten the safety and well-being of our community from our streets,” the department said. Garland, Irving and Arlington did not re- spond to the Observer’s specific question of how the departments will ensure that SB 4 does not lead to racial profiling. The Plano and Frisco Police Departments did not re- spond to requests for information on how their officers plan to implement SB 4. A spokesperson from the Fort Worth Police Department said it is working to get the lat- est information on the law. In 2024, though, just a few months after SB 4 was signed into law, Fort Worth police signaled hesitancy to go all in on SB 4. “Although we will always follow the law, the primary responsibility for immigration en- forcement and border protection should be left to our federal and state partners,” Former Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noake said in a social media video. (Later on, the department posted to X the statement, “To be clear – and so there is no confusion - Fort Worth Police Department will ALWAYS enforce the law.”) In a statement provided to the Observer after the Dallas Police Department said it will remain in compliance with all state laws, noting that its recent General Order change reflects this. “The Department has longstanding poli- cies in place to prevent and address claims of racial profiling,” the statement reads. “SB4 also reaffirms the prohibition of racial profiling and discrimination. We have not made any changes to posture or policy as it relates to SB4.” Ironically, Garcia is now chief of the Fort Worth squad. ▼ JUSTICE FINALLY DALLAS FINALLY APPROVES NEW BOTHAM JEAN BOULEVARD STREET SIGNS. BY EMMA RUBY O n May 13, the Dallas City Council approved funding that will replace highway exit signs and road signs marking Lamar Street with new signage Stewart F. House/Getty Images Dallas police could soon be tasked with arresting people they think have crossed the border illegally. Not Very Helpful from p6
