Houston Mayor Curtails Cooperation with ICE Following Democratic Wins

Houston Mayor John Whitmire has issued a new directive instructing the police to significantly curtail their cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following the Democratic Party's success in the recent midterm elections. Under the new directive, the Houston Police Department (HPD) will only notify ICE during traffic stops if the individual is suspected of committing a jailable offense or if they have an ICE warrant. This move represents a notable shift from previous practices, where HPD frequently contacted ICE even for minor infractions.

The decision to limit police cooperation with ICE was made in response to the Democratic victories in the recent midterms, which saw the party regain control in Texas. This change comes after Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, had threatened to withhold approximately $110 million in state public safety grants if the city did not comply with ICE requests. However, despite Abbott's threats, Houston's mayor directed the police to reduce cooperation with ICE, signaling a significant political realignment in the state capital.

In addition to the new directive, HPD will now cite and release individuals for nonviolent cases without contacting ICE, further reducing the frequency of interactions between local law enforcement and the federal agency. This approach aims to create a more welcoming environment for immigrants in Houston, while also addressing concerns raised by immigrant communities regarding ICE's aggressive enforcement methods.

Recent incidents involving ICE have highlighted the need for such changes. In July, ICE agents shot and killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo during a traffic stop, and in October, Miguel Parra Hernandez was struck and injured by an ICE vehicle during a pursuit. These events have contributed to growing public scrutiny of ICE's practices and have bolstered support for measures that limit local law enforcement's involvement with the agency.

ICE has added over 700,000 administrative immigration warrants to a national criminal database used by police departments, increasing the likelihood of encounters between local officers and ICE. Despite this, Houston City Council revised an ordinance in response to Abbott's threat, allowing officers to contact ICE when encountering someone with an administrative immigration warrant. This adjustment reflects the complex interplay between state and local governance in Texas, where the balance of power can significantly influence policy outcomes.

With the recent election of Democrat Gina Hinojosa as the next governor of Texas, the landscape for immigration policy in the state is likely to see further shifts. ICE maintains around 2,600 agreements with local police and other agencies to enforce immigration laws, many of which are located in Texas, making the state a focal point for immigration debates and policy changes.

What we know

• Houston Mayor John Whitmire instructed the police to stop notifying ICE during traffic stops. ¹
• HPD will contact ICE only for jailable offenses or if a suspect has an ICE warrant. ⁴⁶
• HPD will cite and release individuals for nonviolent cases without contacting ICE. ⁴
• ICE added over 700,000 administrative immigration warrants to a national criminal database used by police departments. ⁴
• Local police contacted ICE at least 107 times in the first eight months of 2025, compared to nine times in all of 2024. ⁴
• Houston City Council revised an ordinance in response to Abbott's threat, allowing officers to contact ICE when encountering someone with an administrative immigration warrant. ⁴
• ICE has around 2,600 agreements with local police and other agencies to enforce immigration laws, many in Texas. ⁵
• Texas governor Greg Abbott lost his bid for a fourth term to Democrat Gina Hinojosa. ⁵