AUSTIN (KXAN) Austin Police Department Chief Lisa Davis met with Hispanic community organizations on Monday morning.

Inside El Centro De Familia, the Latino-led nonprofit Southwest Key Programs’ building, leaders were already set to have a community meet and greet with APD’s new chief.

Then, after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, confirmed “enhanced targeted operations” in Austin Sunday, members used the intimate, invite-only gathering to ask specific questions about ICE operations in the city.

“She stated that the City of Austin [and police] are not in touch with ICE on a regular basis, that they’re not aware of ICE operations and that they do not intend to facilitate ICE in their immigration efforts at this point,” Gloria Leal, general counsel for the National League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) said.

Latino Nonprofits LULAC, Habla ATX and the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce (TAMACC) gathered roughly 50 community members to meet with Davis on Monday.

Davis opened up to community members about how APD is trying to get clarity on federal immigration operations in Austin.
“We reached out to have conversations with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), ICE and other federal partners about what’s going to be occurring,” Davis said.

Leaders said they felt reassured after speaking with Davis.

“This was a to-be-continued meeting because we want to work with the Police Department,” Alicia Perez Hodge, with Habla ATX said.

In the meantime, Hispanic organizations are uniting to debunk misinformation, and trying to educate people about their rights.
“This is our city, these are our people,” Perez said.

Perez said they they plan to go back to policies they developed during COVID, where they will have important information compiled in one place through the Austin Latino Coalition.
 

Habla ATX said it also will to hold a community meeting within the coming weeks, and are working to connect with city council, and others.