Houston Mayor John Whitmire is changing how local police cooperate with federal immigration authorities following Democrats’ sweeping victories in Texas, including flipping the governor's office and other statewide races in Tuesday's (November 3) midterm elections.
Whitmire, a Democrat, signed an executive order Friday (November 6) directing the Houston Police Department to restrict when officers contact U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).The decision marks a shift from Whitmire's previous position.
Under the new order, officers can contact ICE only when a person is already being taken to jail on new charges or other outstanding warrants and has a positive National Crime Information Center (NCIC) hit for an ICE administrative warrant, according to Houston Public Media.
“The fact that a person is, or is suspected to be, subject to immigration enforcement shall not, by itself, be a basis to contact ICE, to prolong any detention, or to take any person into or hold any person in custody,” the order stated.
The decision marks a reversal for Whitmire, who previously defended Houston's cooperation with ICE after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to withhold more than $110 million in public safety funding.
During a news conference Friday with Houston Police Chief J. Noe Diaz, Whitmire defended his previous position, saying critics did not have to consider the city's budget and funding concerns when calling for resistance to the state's immigration requirements.
“It's easy for critics to say fight them back, when they don't have to pass a city budget,” Whitmire said. “Elections matter.”
Whitmire said he previously voted against Senate Bill 4, a Texas law requiring local law enforcement agencies to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, because he was concerned about the fear and anxiety it would create in immigrant communities.
“I do this to begin a healing process. Reduce fear and anxiety across our community,” he said of the new policy.
Although Republicans will remain in control of the Texas Legislature for another two months, Whitmire said he intends to move forward with the change.
“I will take the responsibility even with the current administration in office for the next two months,” he said.
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