Texas mayor instructs police to limit co-operation with ICE

November 7, 2026

Houston Mayor John Whitmire has issued an executive order restricting the city's police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, requiring officers to contact ICE only when arresting someone for a jailable offense who also has an administrative ICE warrant. This policy shift follows Democratic victories in Texas's recent midterm elections, including the defeat of Republican Governor Greg Abbott, and comes amid public anger over an ICE officer's fatal shooting of a man driving to work in Houston. Whitmire frames the decision as starting a healing process to reduce community fear while acknowledging it contradicts previous state policy.

Who is affected

Residents of Houston, particularly undocumented immigrants and immigrant communities
Houston Police Department officers
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and officials
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo (52-year-old Mexican national fatally shot by ICE)
Austin residents (implementing similar policy)
Mayor John Whitmire
Former Governor Greg Abbott
Police Chief Noe Diaz

What action is being taken

Houston police are limiting contact with ICE to only cases involving arrests for jailable offenses where an administrative ICE warrant exists
Austin is implementing a similar policy change
An ICE officer is facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly hitting a man with a vehicle

Why it matters

This policy represents a significant shift in how local law enforcement in Texas's largest city interacts with federal immigration authorities, potentially affecting thousands of undocumented immigrants. The change comes after sustained public outcry over ICE's fatal shooting of an unintended target and reflects broader concerns about community trust in law enforcement. The move is particularly notable as it occurs in Texas, a traditionally Republican stronghold, and directly challenges previous state-level immigration enforcement policies, demonstrating how local jurisdictions can resist federal immigration enforcement priorities.

What's next

Mayor Whitmire is calling on Congress to change federal immigration laws
Whitmire wants ICE to receive better training, body cameras, and de-escalation training

Read full article from source: BBC