Houston Mayor Whitmire Limits City Cooperation With ICE After Democratic Wins

Houston Mayor John Whitmire signed an executive order on Friday to limit the city's cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The move follows Tuesday's general election, in which Democrats captured key state offices for the first time in decades. Whitmire described the policy as a new model for local immigration enforcement.

Under the new guidelines, city agencies will focus on immigrants who pose a danger to the public. Whitmire stated the goal is to target those who threaten safety, not individuals attending to family business, work, or education. The order specifically targets nonviolent and nonjailable offenses. In such cases, officers will issue citations or warnings without contacting ICE. Whitmire said this approach reduces fear and anxiety among residents.

The policy shift comes after a period of tension between local authorities and federal agents. The Trump administration's immigration crackdown in Houston triggered protests following two high-profile incidents this summer. In one, an ICE officer fatally shot a Mexican homebuilder. In another, an officer struck a man with a car. Last week, a grand jury indicted ICE officer Mario Alberto Morales on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Prosecutors allege Morales intentionally rammed his vehicle into Miguel Parra Hernandez, breaking the man's leg. ICE claimed Parra Hernandez ran into the car, a version of events prosecutors say video footage contradicts.

ICE relies heavily on local police to locate deportation targets. The agency has signed approximately 2,600 agreements to deputize state and local agencies, many of them in Texas. Texas has served as a primary location for federal arrests. The state's previous governor, Greg Abbott, aligned closely with the federal administration on immigration enforcement. Abbott lost his bid for a fourth term to Democrat Gina Hinojosa in Tuesday's election.