Houston mayor signs order to limit cooperation with ICE, says 'elections matter'

Houston mayor signs order to limit cooperation with ICE, says 'elections matter' Advertisement Updated: 11:59 AM CST Nov 6, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ By LEKAN OYEKANMI Houston mayor signs order to limit cooperation with ICE, says 'elections matter' Updated: 11:59 AM CST Nov 6, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ By LEKAN OYEKANMI HOUSTON — The mayor of Houston on Friday said the city would limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, heralding “a new model” of immigration enforcement after Democrats won power in Texas for the first time in decades. Mayor John Whitmire said the city would go after immigrants “that pose a danger, not those that are going about their family business, work and education.” Advertisement Related video above | Democrats pledge affordability reforms as they prepare to take control of Congress A traffic incident "will not even ... you write a citation or you warn them and they go about their way. No contact with (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) over nonviolent, non-jailable offenses. It reduces the fear and anxiety.” Details of the change were to be spelled out in an executive order but the move by the nation’s fourth-largest city is one of the first steps to curb ICE’s powers since Tuesday’s election. The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Houston has sparked protests after an ICE officer fatally shot a Mexican homebuilder this summer and another struck a man with a car . A grand jury last week indicted ICE officer Mario Alberto Morales on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Prosecutors say Morales intentionally rammed his car into Miguel Parra Hernandez, whose leg was broken. ICE has asserted that Parra Hernandez ran in front of the vehicle, an account that prosecutors say is contradicted by video. Make WISN a preferred source on Google Add Preferred Source Share Infinite Scroll Enabled Top Picks Wild video: Runaway tire flies off a truck and strikes an unsuspecting man 19-year-old to become one of Massachusetts' youngest representatives in state history Dramatic video: Mother rescues man drowning 'We brought him home': A WWII soldier killed 82 years ago has finally been laid to rest