A proposal to limit Houston police coordination with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) advanced Thursday, signaling a potential shift in city policy and escalating tensions with Mayor John Whitmire. The ordinance, dubbed Proposition A, aims to increase transparency and reform how the Houston Police Department (HPD) interacts with federal immigration authorities.
At-Large Council Member Alejandra Salinas and District C Council Member Abbie Kamin announced the proposal at City Hall, with District J Councilman Edward Pollard also signing on. The ordinance stipulates that HPD is not required to contact ICE for administrative immigration warrants – civil, rather than criminal, in nature – and reinforces Fourth Amendment protections by requiring routine traffic stops to conclude once their lawful purpose is fulfilled. It also mandates regular reports from HPD to the city council and the public detailing instances of inquiries into immigration status or contact with ICE.
The move follows a series of reports in the Houston Chronicle detailing increased coordination between HPD and ICE, culminating in a confirmation from Police Chief Noe Diaz last week that 85 individuals were turned over to ICE in 2025. This increased collaboration prompted a directive from Mayor Whitmire and Chief Diaz earlier this month establishing a 30-minute response window for ICE agents to respond to calls regarding individuals subject to administrative warrants. Officers are now also required to notify a sergeant when encountering individuals with such warrants, and have the sergeant respond to the scene.
Council Member Salinas emphasized that the ordinance does not preclude cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. “This ordinance does not prevent cooperation with federal immigration enforcement,” she stated. “This ordinance does not violate state law. It does not prevent officers from doing their jobs. Rather, it empowers them to focus on keeping our communities safe.” Proposition A is supported by the ACLU of Texas and a coalition of community and faith leaders.
Mayor Whitmire has publicly defended HPD’s actions and cautioned against curtailing collaboration with ICE, raising the possibility of state or federal intervention. Last week, Whitmire described two instances where HPD officers arrested individuals and transported them directly to ICE as “mistakes” made by “young” officers, but maintained that the department’s overall policy was sound. The ordinance faces political and legal hurdles, and its future remains uncertain.
Similar ordinances already exist in Austin, Dallas, and Bexar County, offering a potential legal framework for Proposition A. The ordinance is currently under legal review and is scheduled to travel before the city council for a vote in the coming weeks.
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