Houston Mayor John Whitmire (D) announced Friday that the city will significantly reduce its cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a policy shift that comes just days after Democrats swept statewide offices in Texas. The executive order applies to individuals arrested for nonviolent offenses, who will be released with citations, and the city will not notify ICE about such detainees even if they have outstanding immigration warrants.
“I do this to begin a healing process, reduce fear and anxiety across our community,” Whitmire said at a news conference. The move marks a notable reversal after months of tension between Houston and federal immigration authorities.
Houston has been a flashpoint for ICE enforcement this year. In July, ICE agents fatally shot a Mexican man who had lived in the U.S. for 35 years, sparking protests and leaving some voters to place “I Voted” stickers on his memorial. More recently, an ICE agent was indicted for allegedly striking an undocumented immigrant with his vehicle.
The city had previously passed an ordinance limiting police cooperation with federal immigration agents, but that measure was repealed after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) launched an investigation and Governor Greg Abbott threatened to withhold $110 million in public safety funding. Paxton argued the ordinance violated Senate Bill 4, a state law prohibiting local policies that restrict immigration enforcement.
Whitmire acknowledged that the political landscape has shifted dramatically. In Tuesday’s elections, Democrats captured the governor’s mansion, the attorney general’s office, and other statewide posts. Abbott lost to state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, while Paxton, who left the AG’s office to run for the U.S. Senate, was defeated by state Rep. James Talarico by 12 points. The Republican candidate to replace Paxton also lost.
“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.”
Governor-elect Hinojosa has been a vocal critic of Abbott’s border security efforts, which have cost billions of dollars. She has called the operation “political theatre” and promised to review it. Democrats also won control of the Texas House, though they remain in the minority in the Senate, limiting their ability to fully repeal Republican policies.
Political analysts see the Texas shift as a potential turning point for national politics, with some commentators suggesting that a permanent Democratic tilt in Texas could undermine Republican presidential prospects. The state’s changing demographics and urban centers like Houston are driving the shift, and Whitmire’s policy change is likely to be watched closely by other cities seeking to limit ICE cooperation.
Whitmire’s order applies only to nonviolent offenders, and the mayor stressed that violent criminals will still be subject to ICE notification. The move is expected to face legal challenges from conservative groups, but with the new Democratic leadership in Austin, the state’s enforcement posture may soften.
