Houston mayor looks to limit city’s cooperation with ICE after Democrats’ wins in Texas

Houston Mayor John Whitmire (D) said the city would limit cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers just days after Democrats swept the state-level offices in the midterm elections.

The mayor said his executive order applied to nonviolent criminals, who will be released with a citation, and that unless someone is arrested for an offense, ICE will not be notified even if they have an outstanding immigration warrant.

“I do this to begin a healing process, reduce fear and anxiety across our community,” Whitmire said at a news conference Friday.

Houston has been at the center of multiple confrontations with ICE officers this year, including, most recently, the indictment of an ICE officer who prosecutors say struck a Mexican immigrant without permanent legal status with his vehicle.

In July, ICE officers in Houston fatally shot a Mexican man who had lived in the U.S. for 35 years. Some in Texas left “I Voted” stickers on his memorial ahead of the election.

Houston previously passed an ordinance to limit police cooperation with federal immigration officers, but Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) opened an investigation into the move, accusing it of violating Texas Senate Bill 4, a law that prevents cities from taking up policies to limit immigration enforcement.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) then threatened to hold up $110 million in public safety funding unless the ordinance was repealed, which it ultimately was.

Paxton was already set to leave the attorney general’s office, opting to run for Senate instead. He was defeated Tuesday by state Rep. James Talarico (D) by 12 points. The Republican running to replace Paxton lost too.

Abbott lost his seat in the governor’s mansion to state Rep. Gina Hinojosa (D). The Democrats’ statewide sweep marks a major shift in the Lone Star State’s political power.

Whitmire acknowledged that the election played a role in the policy change.

“I also do this knowing elections matter,” Whitmire said. “I’ve been in contact with the new statewide elected officials, and SB 4 is not a priority of the new statewide elected officials.”

As governor, Abbott spent billions on border security when former President Biden was in office. Hinojosa has previously called the Texas governor’s operation “political theatre” and said she would review the operation.

Democrats took control of the state House in Texas but will remain in the minority in the Texas state Senate, preventing them from fully undoing some GOP policies.