Overview
- Mayor John Whitmire signed an executive order on Friday that directs the Houston Police Department to stop contacting ICE over nonviolent or minor infractions.
- The order says officers should notify ICE only when a person faces a charge that can carry jail time or when ICE issues a formal administrative warrant.
- The directive also bars using suspected or known immigration status alone to prolong a detention or to justify holding someone in custody.
- Local immigrant-rights groups publicly praised the move and city leaders framed it as an early policy change after recent Democratic election wins in Texas.
- The change follows months of local controversy over ICE conduct and comes as ICE still relies heavily on local law enforcement to identify and transfer people for deportation; ICE had not responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting.