Houston Mayor John Whitmire, a Democrat, on Friday directed city police to limit cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He signed a two-page order and said it was a direct result of Democrats winning power in Texas for the first time in decades. He said, "elections matter."
Under the order, Houston police should contact ICE only if a person they stop is arrested on a charge subject to jailing, or if ICE issues an administrative warrant. The order states that a person being suspected of immigration violations alone is not a basis to contact ICE, extend a detention or take someone into custody. Whitmire said the city would target immigrants "that pose a danger." ICE spokespersons did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The order comes after an ICE officer fatally shot a Mexican homebuilder this summer, and a grand jury last week indicted another ICE officer, Mario Alberto Morales, on an aggravated assault charge. Prosecutors say Morales intentionally rammed a man with his car. ICE has said the man ran in front of the vehicle, an account prosecutors say video contradicts. In April, Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to take nearly $200 million in public safety grants from Austin, Dallas and Houston.