Houston Mayor John Whitmire, a Democrat, signed an order on Friday directing police to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Whitmire said the order was a result of Democrats regaining power in Texas for the first time in decades.
Under the directive, Houston police should contact U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement only if a person they stop is arrested on a charge that can lead to jail time, or if ICE issues an administrative warrant. Whitmire said the city would focus on immigrants "that pose a danger." He said that in a traffic incident, police would write a citation or give a warning.
The changes followed Democrat Gina Hinojosa's defeat of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in Tuesday's midterm elections. Hinojosa will become Texas' first Latina governor and the first Democrat to hold the office in more than 30 years, according to the report. Abbott, a Trump ally, has threatened Texas cities over efforts to limit immigration enforcement.