Houston Mayor Restricts Police Cooperation With ICE After Elections

Houston is changing how local police cooperate with federal immigration authorities after recent election results reshaped Texas politics. Mayor John Whitmire issued an executive order on Friday, November 6, 2026, instructing the Houston Police Department (HPD) to contact Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) only when individuals subject to civil immigration warrants face charges carrying potential jail time.

The directive prohibits officers from detaining people solely because of administrative immigration warrants. It also prevents police from contacting ICE about those warrants when the individual has not been arrested for a jailable offense, according to Houston Public Media.

The decision reverses a policy that previously required officers to hold immigrants for a reasonable period while waiting for federal immigration agents. The change follows Democratic gains in the midterm elections, including Gina Hinojosa's victory over Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

Whitmire described the directive as an effort to rebuild trust between local authorities and Houston residents.

"I do this to begin a healing process, reduce fear and anxiety across our community. I also do this knowing that elections matter," Whitmire said during Friday's press conference.

The mayor also described the intended focus of immigration enforcement as individuals "that pose a danger," rather than immigrants continuing their ordinary activities involving family, employment and education. He characterized the policy as "a new model" of immigration enforcement.

Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz explained how the revised rules would affect routine police encounters, particularly minor traffic violations.

"For example, if our police officers pull over someone for a minor traffic infraction and they write a citation, that person receives a citation and goes about their day. HPD will no longer contact ICE if they have an administrative warrant and they are not arrested," Diaz said.

Whitmire's announcement follows months of political conflict over Houston's immigration enforcement practices. In April, the mayor initially joined City Council members seeking to give officers discretion over contacting ICE and prevent detention based solely on civil immigration warrants.

However, Abbott threatened to withdraw more than $110 million in public safety funding if Houston maintained the changes. The mayor and City Council subsequently reversed their position and restored requirements for officers to detain immigrants for a "reasonable" period while awaiting ICE agents.

Before that reversal, Whitmire's staff distributed a memorandum detailing more than $260 million in direct appropriations that Houston received from the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature in 2025. The mayor argued that confronting the state government could jeopardize future financial support.

City Council Member Alejandra Salinas, who introduced the April proposal and opposed its reversal, welcomed the new executive order.

"Today, we acknowledged the fear that we had been causing, and I'm so grateful that we can put those days behind us. I commend the mayor and Chief Diaz for finally listening to the calls of community and taking this decisive action," Salinas said.

Salinas described the announcement as a "great step forward" after months of disagreements over the department's cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

The policy change comes amid heightened concerns about immigration enforcement incidents in Houston. In July, ICE agents fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo during a traffic stop in the city while reportedly searching for other individuals. The incident unsettled residents of Magnolia Park and drew attention to the effects of federal immigration operations on local communities.

In October, ICE officer Mario Alberto Morales was indicted by a grand jury on aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges involving Miguel Parra Hernandez. Prosecutors alleged that Morales deliberately struck Parra Hernandez with a vehicle, breaking his leg. ICE maintained that Parra Hernandez ran in front of the vehicle, an explanation prosecutors said conflicted with video evidence.

Records obtained by Houston Public Media also documented instances in which people seeking emergency assistance encountered immigration enforcement concerns, including calls involving a suicide attempt and domestic violence.

Houston immigrant-rights organization Fiel welcomed the mayor's announcement. Executive Director Cesar Espinosa said the city needed to implement the policy previously approved by City Council members.

"Today Houston won. The Houston city council had already decided this months ago," Espinosa said.

ICE officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Guardian. Abbott and the Texas Attorney General's Office also did not immediately respond to Houston Public Media's request for comment on the executive order.