HOUSTON – Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego was released from the Montgomery ICE processing center on Wednesday.
On July 7, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was shot and killed by an ICE agent while on his way to work in the Magnolia Park neighborhood.
Rojas Pliego witnessed the shooting from inside a van.
What the city can, can’t do
KPRC 2 asked Houston Mayor John Whitmire directly what options Houston leaders have to protect undocumented immigrants with no criminal record from being detained.
“Well, most objective individuals know that it is a federal program. We have state laws that require us to follow Senate Bill 4,” Whitmire said. “So the law requires HPD to at least let ICE know they have someone with a warrant. More times than not, they are released.”
At-Large Council Member Alejandra Salinas said there is one component the City of Houston can control, and that is the extent of HPD’s interaction with ICE. Salinas said she wants to ensure Houston police is not interacting more with ICE than it is legally obligated to.
“While I wish in my heart that we could control the actions of a federal agency, we are very limited in our ability as a local government to do so,” Salinas said. “What we can do is control how our resources and our police department is facilitating ICE operations.”
Newly released data from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shows the number of detentions made by federal agents in recent months like June spiked — including arrests of individuals with no criminal record.
Ordinance under pressure
Back in April, a Houston ordinance restricting how police can cooperate with ICE went into effect. It was quickly amended, however, after Governor Greg Abbott warned that $114 million in public safety funding could be at risk.
Of that amount, $64 million was tied to FIFA World Cup security. Now that the tournament has concluded, the question remains whether city council will revisit the ordinance.
“We have to decide as a council, how much is too much? How many events need to occur until we decide that we are going to take a stand against ice,” said Salinas.
When KPRC 2 asked District A Council Member Amy Peck whether public pressure might prompt another look at the ordinance, Peck drew a clear line.
“I don’t want HPD to be ICE, and I don’t think anyone really does,” Peck said. “HPD has a job that they have to do, and with the limited resources, I want to make sure they are doing those public safety components — but we also have public obligations when it comes to warrants, whether that is ICE or other public agency.”
Whitmire also made clear he wants to see changes in how ICE operates on Houston streets.
“It is frustrating. I want changes with ICE. I want their masks off, get marked vehicles, and they have to get back to getting the worst of the worst criminals,” Whitmire said.
When asked what residents and elected officials can do, Whitmire pointed to political advocacy.
“You speak out, as I’m doing right now. Support our congressional delegation, U.S. senators — so whether it be conducted by Congress or other restrictions,” Whitmire said.