HOUSTON – The Houston City Council is set to vote Wednesday on a revised immigration ordinance aimed at clarifying how the Houston Police Department interacts with federal immigration agents.
The proposal focuses on drawing a clearer line between the responsibilities of the Houston Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, particularly during routine traffic stops and investigations.
City leaders say the measure is intended to address growing concerns from residents who may be hesitant to call police for help out of fear they could be detained by ICE.
Supporters argue that fear could lead to fewer people reporting crimes or cooperating as witnesses, ultimately impacting public safety.
Under the proposal, officers would only be allowed to detain someone for as long as reasonably necessary to complete the original purpose of a stop or investigation.
The ordinance makes clear that an ICE administrative warrant alone, a civil document that does not allege a criminal offense, would not justify a stop, arrest or continued detention by HPD.
If no crime is suspected, the individual must be released.
Currently, when officers encounter an immigration warrant, they are required to call a supervisor to the scene.
That supervisor must then verify the warrant before contacting ICE, whose agents are then given a limited window to respond.
The updated ordinance would also require HPD to provide quarterly reports to city council members detailing its interactions with ICE, adding a layer of transparency to how often and in what situations those encounters occur.
The measure up for vote is a revised version of a proposal introduced in recent weeks, after earlier language raised legal concerns about potential conflicts with state law.
Wednesday’s meeting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at City Hall.