Houston Mayor John Whitmire directed police to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities
Houston Mayor John Whitmire ordered police to limit cooperation with immigration authorities during traffic stops, saying only immigrants who “pose a danger” would be referred to ICE, The Guardian reported. The order follows April’s ordinance eliminating a policy requiring officers to wait 30 minutes for ICE agents. Gov. Greg Abbott threatened roughly $110 million in state public safety grants.
More context
Houston Mayor John Whitmire on Friday directed city police to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The Guardian reported that Whitmire said only immigrants who “pose a danger” would be referred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The order follows an April City Council ordinance that ended a policy requiring officers to wait 30 minutes for ICE agents to arrive at traffic stops initiated by Houston police. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had threatened to withdraw roughly $110 million in state public safety grants over the ordinance, arguing it violated the 2017 state law Senate Bill 4, which bars police departments from limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities, according to The Texas Tribune. Houston Controller Chris Hollins, one of several city officials who had urged police to stop cooperating with ICE, called Whitmire’s decision “a promising first step.”
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Reporting
- PBS News (with Associated Press) — WATCH: 'Elections matter.' Houston mayor limits police cooperation with ICE
- The Guardian — Houston to limit police cooperation with federal immigration authorities
- The Texas Tribune — Houston Mayor John Whitmire limits police cooperation with ICE
Verifier’s note
PBS NewsHour, The Texas Tribune, and The Guardian all report that Houston’s mayor directed police to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Their reports are dated November 6, 2026, consistent with the proposed event’s timing.