The Houston City Council is set to vote on a revised immigration ordinance aimed at clarifying how the Houston Police Department interacts with federal immigration authorities, specifically U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The ordinance focuses on limiting detentions during routine traffic stops or investigations. Under the proposal, officers would only hold someone for the time reasonably necessary to complete the original purpose of a stop or investigation. Civil ICE warrants alone—administrative documents not alleging criminal activity—would no longer justify continued detention; individuals must be released if no crime is suspected.
Currently, officers encountering an immigration warrant must call a supervisor, who verifies the warrant and then contacts ICE, which has a limited response window. The revised ordinance also requires HPD to submit quarterly reports to City Council detailing its interactions with ICE, increasing transparency about the frequency and circumstances of these encounters.
City leaders say the measure addresses residents’ fears that interacting with police could lead to immigration consequences, which could reduce crime reporting and cooperation. The updated proposal follows legal concerns raised with earlier versions about potential conflicts with state law.