Whitmire orders Houston police to stop contacting ICE over nonviolent offenses; ICE says he is protecting criminals
Houston Mayor John Whitmire ordered police to stop contacting ICE over nonviolent offenses after Democrats won Texas's statewide races. He says the change will reduce fear; ICE says it protects some of the worst criminals in America.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire says he has directed the police chief and HPD through an executive order to change the city's policy on contact with ICE, in a video posted by the Houston Mayor's Office on November 6, 2026.
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Video: Houston Mayor's Office
Watch the full original video (opens in a new tab) (relevant passage: Post text and attached 28-second video)
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Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
On November 6, 2026, three days after Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Gov. Greg Abbott, Houston Mayor John Whitmire signed an executive order directing police to stop contacting ICE over nonviolent offenses. Police Chief J. Noe Diaz says officers will contact ICE only when someone they arrest also has an administrative immigration warrant. Whitmire says the change will reduce fear; ICE and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin criticized it.
Read the full background
In March 2026, after reports that two Houston police officers had taken people to federal immigration authorities solely because of administrative immigration warrants, Police Chief J. Noe Diaz said officers who get a hit for such a warrant must call a sergeant to the scene to verify it, and that federal officers would have 30 minutes to respond. Mayor John Whitmire said the department does not act as immigration officers but has to follow the state law known as Senate Bill 4.
In April, the City Council passed an ordinance limiting how long officers could hold someone during a stop. The governor's office told the city that the ordinance breached a grant certification requiring cooperation with Homeland Security detainer requests and that $110 million in state public safety grants was at risk, and Attorney General Ken Paxton opened an investigation. Whitmire, who had voted for the ordinance, called it "a crisis situation." On April 22, the council approved a revised ordinance that lets officers hold someone for a "reasonable" amount of time, and Gov. Greg Abbott said the funds would stay frozen until the police department agreed to the state's terms.
On November 3, Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Abbott. Three days later Whitmire signed an executive order on HPD's contact with ICE. In a post on the Houston Mayor's Office account, he says it directs HPD to no longer contact ICE for nonviolent offenses. Diaz said officers will contact ICE only if someone they arrest also has an administrative ICE warrant, and that a driver who gets a citation for a minor traffic violation will go about their day. Whitmire said he would take responsibility for the change two months before the new state leadership takes office.
ICE answered on X that the mayor is advocating policies that protect some of the worst criminals in America, and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin wrote that sanctuary politicians are failing their constituents. FIEL, a Houston immigrant rights group that has criticized Whitmire, welcomed the change.
People in this case
John WhitmireDirectly involved
Markwayne MullinCommented
Timeline
5 timeline entries on this page. Dates: March 11, 2026 to November 6, 2026
March 2026
Houston police add a sergeant review for administrative immigration warrants
Police Chief J. Noe Diaz orders officers who encounter someone with an administrative immigration warrant to call a sergeant to the scene to verify it, and gives federal officers 30 minutes to respond. Whitmire says the department does not act as immigration officers but must follow Senate Bill 4.
[01]HPD Tightens Policy on Immigration Warrants
The Houston Press reports that Police Chief J. Noe Diaz ordered officers who encounter an administrative immigration warrant to call a sergeant to the scene, gave federal officers 30 minutes to respond, and quotes Whitmire and FIEL's Cesar Espinosa.
HPD Tightens Policy on Immigration WarrantsFull article
April 2026
The governor's office says Houston's new ordinance puts $110 million in grants at risk
A letter from Gov. Greg Abbott's office says the council's ordinance limiting how long officers can hold someone during a stop breaches the city's grant certification, which requires cooperation with Homeland Security detainer requests, and puts $110 million in public safety grants at risk. Whitmire, who voted for the ordinance, calls it a crisis situation.
[02]State threatens to pull public safety funding over ordinance limiting when HPD can call ICE
KPRC reports on the governor's office letter saying the city's new ordinance breaches its grant certification and could cost $110 million in public safety grants, and prints Whitmire's statement calling it a crisis situation.
The council approves a revised ordinance and Abbott keeps the funds frozen
The City Council approves a revised ordinance that lets officers hold someone for a reasonable amount of time. Abbott says the state funds will stay frozen until the Houston Police Department agrees to notify Homeland Security about people in custody who may be in the country illegally.
[03]Gov. Abbott says HPD still not in compliance with ICE policy
KPRC reports that the City Council approved a revised immigration ordinance and that Abbott said state public safety funds stay frozen until the Houston Police Department agrees to notify Homeland Security about people in custody.
November 2026
Gina Hinojosa defeats Gov. Greg Abbott
Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeats Abbott in the governor's race. The AP reports that she will be the first member of her party to hold the office in more than 30 years.
[04]Associated Press
The AP reports that Whitmire signed an order limiting police cooperation with ICE after Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Gov. Greg Abbott, quotes Whitmire, prints ICE's statement criticizing the change, and quotes FIEL executive director Cesar Espinosa and immigration attorney Ruby Powers.
Houston will limit ICE cooperation in response to Democrats taking power in Texas, mayor says · Associated PressFull articleWhitmire signs an executive order limiting when Houston police contact ICE
Whitmire signs an executive order directing HPD to stop contacting ICE over nonviolent offenses. Diaz says officers will contact ICE only if someone they arrest also has an administrative ICE warrant. Whitmire says he hopes the order will be a model for Texas cities.
[05]Houston Mayor's Office post announcing Whitmire's executive order on HPD contact with ICE (X post with video)
The official account of the Houston Mayor's Office posts Whitmire's statement that he has signed an executive order directing HPD to no longer contact ICE for nonviolent offenses. The attached video shows Whitmire at a City Hall podium saying he directed the chief and HPD through an executive order to change the policy on contact with ICE, to begin a healing process and reduce fear and anxiety.
Houston Mayor's Office post announcing Whitmire's executive order on HPD contact with ICE (X post with video)Post text and attached 28-second video[06]Texas Mayor Rolls Back ICE Cooperation After Blue Wave
The Daily Wire quotes Whitmire and Police Chief J. Noe Diaz at the November 6 news conference on what the order changes, and summarizes the April ordinance, the state's $110 million funding threat and the revised ordinance.
[04]Associated Press
The AP reports that Whitmire signed an order limiting police cooperation with ICE after Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Gov. Greg Abbott, quotes Whitmire, prints ICE's statement criticizing the change, and quotes FIEL executive director Cesar Espinosa and immigration attorney Ruby Powers.
Houston will limit ICE cooperation in response to Democrats taking power in Texas, mayor says · Associated PressFull article
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
Limiting Houston police contact with ICE to people arrested on jailable offenses will improve public safety and reduce fear among immigrant residents.
What is disputed
ICE says the order protects some of the worst criminals in America. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin says sanctuary politicians are failing their constituents by limiting cooperation with ICE and that 7 of the 10 safest U.S. cities cooperate with the agency.
Sources (2)
- Houston Mayor's Office post announcing Whitmire's executive order on HPD contact with ICE (X post with video)Post text and attached 28-second video
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
3 responses. Newest first.
Markwayne MullinU.S. secretary of homeland security, in a post on his official X accountBefore this statement
Mullin's post quotes a New York Times post saying that after Texas flipped blue, Houston's mayor told the city's police officers to limit their cooperation with ICE officers.
"Sanctuary politicians are already failing their constituents by limiting cooperation with ICE."
CondemnedResponding to: Limiting Houston police contact with ICE to people arrested on jailable offenses will improve public safety and reduce fear among immigrant residents.
Full statement and sources
Quoting a New York Times post about Houston's order, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin says sanctuary politicians are failing their constituents by limiting cooperation with ICE, and that 7 of the 10 safest cities in America cooperate with the agency.
After the statement
He adds that 7 of the 10 safest cities in America cooperate with ICE and that DHS will not let sanctuary politicians stop it from arresting and removing criminals.
New York Times post on Houston's mayor limiting police cooperation with ICE (X post) · The New York TimesFull postWhy this label?
The reference point is Mayor John Whitmire's November 6, 2026 executive order directing Houston police to stop contacting ICE over nonviolent offenses. Mullin, quoting the Times report on the order, says limiting cooperation with ICE fails constituents, which condemns it.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
U.S. Immigration and Customs EnforcementFederal immigration enforcement agency, in a post on its official X accountDirectly involvedBefore this statement
The post begins by saying that watching child pornography and selling heroin are classified as nonviolent offenses.
"This is the Mayor of Houston directly advocating for policies that protect some of the worst criminals in America."
CondemnedResponding to: Limiting Houston police contact with ICE to people arrested on jailable offenses will improve public safety and reduce fear among immigrant residents.
Full statement and sources
In a post on X the afternoon Whitmire announced the order, ICE says some serious offenses are classified as nonviolent and that the mayor of Houston is advocating policies that protect some of the worst criminals in America.
After the statement
The AP reports that ICE criticized Whitmire over the change and said in a statement that it remains disappointed that sanctuary politicians seek to limit cooperation with ICE.
Houston will limit ICE cooperation in response to Democrats taking power in Texas, mayor says · Associated PressFull articleWhy this label?
The reference point is Mayor John Whitmire's November 6, 2026 executive order directing Houston police to stop contacting ICE over nonviolent offenses. ICE says the order protects some of the worst criminals in America, which condemns it.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
FIEL HoustonHouston immigrant rights group; executive director Cesar Espinosa, speaking to the Associated Press Before this statement
The AP reports that immigrants' rights activists in Houston who have been critical of Whitmire celebrated the change, and Espinosa says collaboration between local police and federal agents has made people afraid of getting stopped for a traffic ticket or calling for help.
"It means that the mom taking her kid to school is not going to have a panic attack every time she sees HPD"
Defended or excusedResponding to: Limiting Houston police contact with ICE to people arrested on jailable offenses will improve public safety and reduce fear among immigrant residents.
Full statement and sources
FIEL executive director Cesar Espinosa tells the AP that collaboration between local police and federal agents has made people afraid of getting stopped for a traffic ticket or calling for help, and that the order means a mother taking her child to school will not have a panic attack every time she sees Houston police.
After the statement
The AP then quotes Houston immigration attorney Ruby Powers, who says it will probably take some time for the immigrant community to feel safer.
Houston will limit ICE cooperation in response to Democrats taking power in Texas, mayor says · Associated PressFull articleWhy this label?
The reference point is Mayor John Whitmire's November 6, 2026 executive order directing Houston police to stop contacting ICE over nonviolent offenses. FIEL welcomes the order as easing immigrants' fear of the police, which defends it.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(9)
Original post
Houston Mayor's Office post announcing Whitmire's executive order on HPD contact with ICE (X post with video)
Houston Mayor John Whitmire says he has directed the police chief and HPD through an executive order to change the city's policy on contact with ICE, in a video posted by the Houston Mayor's Office on November 6, 2026.
DI added its logo in the corner.
Video: Houston Mayor's Office
Watch the full original video (opens in a new tab) (relevant passage: Post text and attached 28-second video)
About this source
The official account of the Houston Mayor's Office posts Whitmire's statement that he has signed an executive order directing HPD to no longer contact ICE for nonviolent offenses. The attached video shows Whitmire at a City Hall podium saying he directed the chief and HPD through an executive order to change the policy on contact with ICE, to begin a healing process and reduce fear and anxiety.
- Author
- Houston Mayor's Office
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Gov. Abbott says HPD still not in compliance with ICE policy
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
KPRC reports that the City Council approved a revised immigration ordinance and that Abbott said state public safety funds stay frozen until the Houston Police Department agrees to notify Homeland Security about people in custody.
- Author
- Jaewon Jung
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
State threatens to pull public safety funding over ordinance limiting when HPD can call ICE
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
KPRC reports on the governor's office letter saying the city's new ordinance breaches its grant certification and could cost $110 million in public safety grants, and prints Whitmire's statement calling it a crisis situation.
- Author
- Christian Terry
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
HPD Tightens Policy on Immigration Warrants
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
The Houston Press reports that Police Chief J. Noe Diaz ordered officers who encounter an administrative immigration warrant to call a sergeant to the scene, gave federal officers 30 minutes to respond, and quotes Whitmire and FIEL's Cesar Espinosa.
- Author
- April Towery
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
New York Times post on Houston's mayor limiting police cooperation with ICE (X post)
About this source
The New York Times reports on X that after Texas flipped blue, Houston's mayor told the city's police officers to limit their cooperation with ICE officers.
- Author
- The New York Times
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Markwayne Mullin post on sanctuary politicians limiting cooperation with ICE (X post)
About this source
The homeland security secretary's official X account quotes a New York Times post about Houston's order and says sanctuary politicians are failing their constituents by limiting cooperation with ICE.
- Author
- Markwayne Mullin
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
ICE post criticizing the Houston mayor's order on nonviolent offenses (X post)
About this source
ICE's official X account says some offenses it lists are classified as nonviolent and that the mayor of Houston is advocating policies that protect some of the worst criminals in America.
- Author
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Texas Mayor Rolls Back ICE Cooperation After Blue Wave
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
The Daily Wire quotes Whitmire and Police Chief J. Noe Diaz at the November 6 news conference on what the order changes, and summarizes the April ordinance, the state's $110 million funding threat and the revised ordinance.
- Author
- Jennie Taer
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Houston will limit ICE cooperation in response to Democrats taking power in Texas, mayor says
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
The AP reports that Whitmire signed an order limiting police cooperation with ICE after Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Gov. Greg Abbott, quotes Whitmire, prints ICE's statement criticizing the change, and quotes FIEL executive director Cesar Espinosa and immigration attorney Ruby Powers.
- Author
- Lekan Oyekanmi, Anna Wilder and Valerie Gonzalez
- Published
- Accessed
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Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Whitmire orders Houston police to stop contacting ICE over nonviolent offenses; ICE says he is protecting criminals
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/houston-whitmire-order-limits-police-contact-with-ice
The Dispute Index. "Whitmire orders Houston police to stop contacting ICE over nonviolent offenses; ICE says he is protecting criminals". First published: 2026-11-09. Last updated: 2026-11-09. https://disputeindex.com/cases/houston-whitmire-order-limits-police-contact-with-ice