Houston Council Moves to Lock In New ICE Rules
A proposed ordinance would prevent future mayors from reversing a policy limiting police cooperation with federal immigration agents.
By Amit Chukwu ·
Council members Alejandra Salinas, Edward Pollard and Tiffany Thomas introduced a bill on Monday to codify new rules for Houston Police Department interactions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The measure follows Mayor John Whitmire's announcement on Nov. 6 that the city would alter its approach to federal detainers.
The proposed ordinance would end the requirement for officers to contact ICE based solely on civil administrative warrants. Under the new rules, police would notify the federal agency only when a stop results in a jailable criminal offense. The bill also mandates that HPD provide more specific data in its quarterly transparency reports, including the reasons for jail bookings and whether the city contacted ICE regarding victims or suspects.
Salinas, Pollard and Thomas stated in a joint announcement that the proposal responds to long-standing requests from local residents. "For more than a year, Houston families, workers and advocates have demanded that City Hall limit HPD’s cooperation with ICE," the council members said. They noted that the new measure builds on legislation the city passed earlier in the year.
The primary structural goal of the ordinance is to align the city code with the mayor's recent executive order. By embedding the policy in the code, the council aims to ensure that a future mayor cannot reverse the practice through executive action alone. This move creates a legislative barrier that requires council approval for any future changes to the city's immigration stance.
Mayor Whitmire justified the policy shift at his Nov. 6 press conference, citing a desire to lower community anxiety. "I do this to begin a healing process to reduce fear and anxiety across our community," he said. He also addressed state law, noting that Senate Bill 4, which restricts sanctuary city policies in Texas, was not a priority for the new statewide elected officials with whom he has been in contact.
The council will not formally debate the ordinance at its Nov. 10 meeting. Officials from Salinas' office indicated that the bill is likely to appear on the agenda in mid-November or early December. If the council votes to pass the measure, it would take effect immediately upon adoption.
