Houston Mayor John Whitmire directs HPD to reduce cooperation with ICE after midterm results

Key Points:

• Houston Mayor John Whitmire has issued an executive order directing the Houston Police Department (HPD) to limit contact with federal immigration officers, allowing contact only when individuals with civil immigration warrants are charged with jailable offenses.
• The order prohibits HPD officers from detaining people solely based on civil immigration warrants and stops them from notifying ICE in cases involving minor infractions without arrest.
• This policy shift follows political tensions earlier in the year when a city council ordinance to limit HPD's coordination with ICE was reversed due to threats from Texas Governor Greg Abbott to withhold over $110 million in public safety funding.
• City Council Member Alejandra Salinas praised the new policy as a positive step toward reducing fear in the community, while HPD reports showed nearly 200 ICE contacts from April to September, some involving individuals seeking emergency help.
• The Texas Governor and Attorney General have not yet responded to the announcement, and the original ordinance’s requirement for regular HPD reporting on ICE interactions remains in place.