Houston Mayor Limits Police Contact With ICE After Midterm Shift

Houston residents will see fewer interactions between local officers and federal immigration agents under a new directive issued by Mayor John Whitmire. The policy, announced on Friday, changes how the city’s fourth-largest police department handles stops and arrests involving individuals with uncertain immigration status. This shift follows the midterm elections in Texas, where Democrats secured power for the first time in decades.

The new model focuses enforcement on individuals who pose a danger rather than those attending to daily duties. Whitmire stated the city would target immigrants “that pose a danger, not those that are going about their family business, work and education.” Under the guidelines, a routine traffic incident will not trigger immigration enforcement. Officers will issue citations or warnings for nonviolent, non-jailable offenses without contacting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The directive specifies that Houston police should contact ICE only under two conditions. First, the person stopped must be arrested on a charge that is subject to jailing. Second, ICE must issue an administrative warrant, which is an order signed by a senior official indicating the person is wanted. The two-page order clarifies that being subject to or suspected of immigration enforcement is not, by itself, a basis to contact ICE, prolong detention, or hold a person in custody.

This policy responds to local concerns about the impact of federal enforcement on neighborhoods. In July, ICE agents shot and killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo during a traffic stop in the Magnolia Park neighborhood. The incident rattled residents and highlighted tensions between local communities and federal agents. A neighbor who spoke in July described the feeling as something the community could not fully describe, noting that everyone knew the event was wrong and the need to stand behind their people.

The housing construction industry in Texas has also felt the pressure. The sector has been losing skilled and experienced workers at high rates and high volume. The shooting added to the anxiety among workers who feared stops and detentions. The new city rules aim to reduce that fear and allow workers to continue their daily routines without the threat of federal contact over minor issues.

ICE remains heavily dependent on local police to find and turn over individuals subject to deportation, despite a one-time $75 billion infusion from Congress. The agency has signed about 2,600 agreements to deputize local police and other state and local agencies. Many of these agreements are in Texas, which has been a primary target for ICE arrests. Spokespersons for ICE did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the mayor’s announcement.

Recent incidents have further strained relations. In October, an ICE agent struck Miguel Parra Hernandez with their vehicle during a pursuit of a different suspect. Parra Hernandez’s leg was broken. A grand jury indicted ICE officer Mario Alberto Morales on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Prosecutors say Morales intentionally rammed his car into Parra Hernandez, while ICE asserted that Parra Hernandez ran in front of the vehicle, an account prosecutors say video contradicts.

The political landscape in Texas has also shifted. Governor Greg Abbott, who closely aligned the state with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement, lost his bid for a fourth term to Democrat Gina Hinojosa. This change in state leadership complements the city-level move in Houston.

Cesar Espinosa, executive director of Fiel Houston, an immigrant-rights group, praised the decision. He noted that the city council had decided on this approach months ago. “Today Houston won,” Espinosa said, adding that it was time to follow through. Fiel planned to hold a press conference on Friday afternoon to discuss the announcement.

The Associated Press contributed reporting to the story.