Houston Mayor Limits Police Cooperation With ICE After Texas Elections
Mayor John Whitmire signed an executive order restricting Houston police from notifying ICE during routine stops, unless a suspect is arrested on jailable charges.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire signed an executive order on November 6, 2026, restricting the Houston Police Department from notifying U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during routine traffic stops or low-level infractions. Under the new directive, officers will only contact ICE if an individual is arrested for a jailable offense and possesses an administrative ICE warrant. The policy explicitly prohibits contacting federal agents solely based on a person's immigration status or to prolong detention.
Whitmire stated the shift follows the November 3 midterm elections, in which Democrats won major statewide positions in Texas, including the victory of Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa over incumbent Greg Abbott. The mayor previously maintained cooperation with ICE after Abbott threatened to withhold over $110 million in public safety funding from cities that limited such cooperation. Whitmire noted the new order is intended to reduce community anxiety and begin a healing process.
The decision comes amid local tension following incidents involving ICE agents in Houston, including the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and the indictment of officer Mario Alberto Morales for aggravated assault after he rammed a vehicle into Miguel Parra Hernandez. Police Chief J. Noe Diaz supported the order, stating it allows officers to focus finite resources on violent crime.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement criticized the move, claiming that sanctuary politicians seek to limit cooperation while agents are simply fulfilling their duties. Houston Controller Chris Hollins criticized the timing of the mayor's decision, suggesting it was a reaction to the election results.
