Houston Mayor John Whitmire signed an executive order on Friday directing the police department to limit its cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Officers will contact ICE only if someone commits an offense punishable by jail time.
“Elections matter,” Whitmire said at a press conference. He recalled voting against Texas’ SB 4, saying he was concerned the law would create fear and anxiety.
Republicans in Texas passed SB 4 earlier this year. The law allowed state law enforcement to take part in immigration enforcement and barred cities and local jurisdictions from adopting “sanctuary” policies that protect undocumented residents from immigration enforcement.
