By — Lekan Oyekanmi, Associated Press Lekan Oyekanmi, Associated Press By — Anna Wilder, Associated Press/Report For America Anna Wilder, Associated Press/Report For America By — Valerie Gonzalez, Associated Press Valerie Gonzalez, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-elections-matter-houston-mayor-limits-police-cooperation-with-ice Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: 'Elections matter.' Houston mayor limits police cooperation with ICE Politics Nov 6, 2026 3:51 PM EST HOUSTON (AP) — Houston's mayor on Friday directed police to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, signing an order that he called a direct result of Democrats reclaiming power in Texas for the first time in decades. Watch the video in the player above. The shift in the nation's fourth-largest city is one of the first actions to restrict U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations since Democrats' rout in Tuesday's midterm elections. It also is a sign that results are already having an impact in Texas, where Republican leaders have enthusiastically embraced President Donald Trump's mass deportation agenda. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for…
WATCH: 'Elections matter.' Houston mayor limits police cooperation with ICE
In short
The new directive permits Houston police to contact federal immigration authorities only if a person is arrested for a jailable offense or has an administrative warrant. This decision marks a significant break from the state's previous alignment with federal mass deportation agendas after Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican Governor Greg Abbott. Local friction had previously escalated following contentious events, including the fatal summer shooting of a Mexican homebuilder by a federal agent. The revised rules push forward despite previous threats from the state to strip public safety grants from uncooperative municipalities.
Key points
- Suspected immigration status can no longer be used by city officers to prolong detentions…: Suspected immigration status can no longer be used by city officers to prolong detentions or initiate contact with federal agents.
- Municipal resources will focus on individuals posing safety risks rather than community m…: Municipal resources will focus on individuals posing safety risks rather than community members involved in minor traffic incidents.
- Houston is intentionally curbing its collaboration with federal deportations despite past…: Houston is intentionally curbing its collaboration with federal deportations despite past state threats targeting municipal public safety grants.