Houston mayor curbs cooperation of US city’s police with ICE
Summary
Houston Mayor John Whitmire ordered city police to contact U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement only when arresting someone for an offense punishable by jail. The change reverses a policy he adopted in April after Texas Governor Greg Abbott threatened to withhold public safety grants; Whitmire said the new rules aim to reduce fear in the city.Key Facts
- The order means people stopped for minor traffic violations will not be referred to ICE solely because they have an administrative immigration warrant.
- Houston Police Chief J. Noe Diaz said the department supports the change and has begun putting it in place.
- Abbott had threatened to withdraw about $110 million in state public safety grants over limits on local police cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Whitmire, the city council and the police chief over an earlier city ordinance limiting contact with ICE.
- The Houston Chronicle reported that city police contacted ICE at least 107 times in the first eight months of 2025, compared with nine times during all of 2024.
- Immigrant rights group FIEL Houston welcomed the order but said it was overdue.
- Austin Mayor Kirk Watson asked city officials to revise their policy on ICE warrants.
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