Houston Mayor Orders Limits on Local Police Cooperation With ICE
The move follows Democratic gains in Texas and aims to reduce fear among residents facing nonviolent encounters.
By Takeshi Faure ·
Mayor John Whitmire issued an executive order on Friday limiting how Houston police cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The directive marks the first major administrative step by the nation's fourth-largest city to curb federal immigration powers following Tuesday's election.
Under the new rules, city officers will no longer contact ICE regarding nonviolent or non-jailable offenses. Whitmire stated that the city will target immigrants who pose a danger rather than those pursuing work, education, or family life. He noted that minor traffic incidents will result in citations or warnings without federal involvement, a change intended to reduce community anxiety.
The policy shift occurs against a backdrop of heightened tension between local residents and federal agents. This summer, an ICE officer fatally shot a Mexican homebuilder, sparking widespread protests in Houston. Another incident involved an officer striking a man with a vehicle, resulting in a broken leg.
Legal proceedings have advanced in the latter case. A grand jury indicted ICE officer Mario Alberto Morales last week on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Prosecutors allege Morales intentionally rammed his car into Miguel Parra Hernandez. ICE maintains that the victim ran in front of the vehicle, an account prosecutors say video evidence contradicts.
Federal immigration enforcement in the region relies heavily on local agencies. Despite receiving a one-time infusion of $75 billion from Congress, ICE depends on state and local partners to identify individuals subject to deportation. The agency has signed approximately 2,600 agreements to deputize these partners, many of which are located in Texas, a primary target for federal arrests.
The political landscape in the state has shifted to support this new local approach. Governor Greg Abbott, who had closely aligned Texas with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement, lost his bid for a fourth term. Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Abbott in Tuesday's election, securing the first Democratic victory for the state's top executive office in decades.
