Houston Mayor Orders Police to Cut Ties With ICE After Texas Election Shift
The new directive restricts federal immigration cooperation to serious crimes, a move ICE says disappoints it as Democrats take the governor's mansion.
By Robert Marshall ·
Houston Mayor John Whitmire signed an executive order on Friday directing city police to limit their cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The decision follows Tuesday's midterm elections, in which Democrats reclaimed control of the Texas statehouse for the first time in decades.
The new rules change how the Houston Police Department interacts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Under the directive, officers will contact ICE only if a stopped person is arrested on a charge that allows for jail time. Officers will also call ICE if the agency issues an administrative warrant for the individual. For minor infractions, such as traffic violations, police will issue citations or warnings and release the driver.
Whitmire, a Democrat, stated that the city will focus on immigrants who pose a danger rather than those pursuing family life, work, or education. He noted that in the case of a traffic incident, officers should write a citation or warn the driver so they can continue on their way. Whitmire called the election results a reminder that elections matter.
The policy shift places Houston at the center of a changing dynamic in Texas. Republican leaders there had aligned closely with President Donald Trump's mass deportation agenda. Former Gov. Greg Abbott, who lost his bid for re-election to Democrat Gina Hinojosa, had threatened to withhold nearly $200 million in public safety grants from Houston, Dallas, and Austin. This threat followed earlier attempts by city officials to restrict police cooperation with ICE.
ICE remains dependent on local law enforcement to identify individuals subject to deportation. The agency has signed approximately 2,600 agreements to deputize state and local agencies. Texas has been a primary location for these operations. Despite a recent $75 billion infusion from Congress, the agency continues to rely on these local partnerships.
ICE expressed disappointment in a statement, saying that sanctuary politicians are limiting cooperation while federal officers fulfill their duties to serve and protect. The agency denied intentionally striking Miguel Parra Hernandez with a car during a recent incident in Houston. Parra Hernandez suffered a broken leg in that event. Last week, a grand jury indicted the ICE officer driving the vehicle on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Immigrant rights groups in Houston responded positively to the new order. Cesar Espinosa, executive director of FIEL, described the change as a sigh of relief. He said it means a mother taking her child to school will not panic every time she sees a police car. Ruby Powers, a Houston immigration attorney, noted that trust will take time to rebuild. She said the community will likely need some time to feel safer than before the order was signed.
The election results in Texas reflected national sentiment on immigration enforcement. According to an AP Voter Poll of more than 5,000 Texas voters, more than half said the Trump administration's actions had gone too far. About two in 10 voters said the actions had not gone far enough. A similar share said the approach had been about right. These figures mirrored national trends in public opinion.
