Houston mayor orders police to limit ICE cooperation

Houston mayor limits ICE cooperation

John Whitmire, Houston's Democratic mayor, has directed the city's police to limit cooperation with federal immigration officials through an executive order.

New police contact rules

Houston police will now only contact ICE if someone arrested for a jailable offence has an administrative ICE warrant issued by the Department of Homeland Security.

What changes for minor offences

Under previous rules, police had to inform ICE about anyone with a warrant when searched on the National Crime Information Center database. Minor traffic infractions now result only in citations.

“For example, if our police officers pull someone over for a minor traffic infraction and they write a citation, that person receives a citation and goes about their day.”

Whitmire's stated reasons

Whitmire said the change begins a healing process and reduces fear and anxiety across the community. He noted that elections matter and the move follows Democratic victories this week.

“I do this to begin a healing process and to reduce fear and anxiety across our community.”

Whitmire calls for federal reform

Whitmire called on Congress to change federal immigration rules, saying ICE needs better training, body cameras and de-escalation training, but acknowledged he can only control local policy.

“ICE needs better training. They need body cameras. They need to be trained in de-escalation.”

DHS and Abbott respond

The Department of Homeland Security said it remains disappointed that sanctuary politicians seek to limit ICE cooperation. Governor Greg Abbott has previously threatened to pull millions in funds from Houston, Dallas and Austin.

Context of ICE incidents

The policy change follows months of public outcry after an ICE officer fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a fifty-two-year-old Mexican national, who was driving to work and was not the intended target.