San Antonio Senator Calls for Texas to Halt ICE Operations

State Sen. José Menéndez urges Gov. Greg Abbott to cease cooperation with federal immigration enforcement amid concerns over deaths in custody and constitutional violations.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 4:07pm

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State Sen. José Menéndez has formally requested that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott halt all cooperation between the state and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), citing a string of incidents involving alleged constitutional rights violations, family separations, and deaths of detainees in ICE custody.

Why it matters

Menéndez's call adds a prominent Texas voice to the growing national scrutiny of ICE's tactics, which have drawn legal challenges and sparked protests across the country. The senator frames his demand as both a public safety concern and a defense of constitutional norms, arguing that state officials should not assist in federal operations that he says deviate from standard law enforcement practices.

The details

In a letter to Abbott, Menéndez wrote that he has 'grave concerns regarding the operations conducted by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement' and pressed the governor to cease ICE activity in Texas 'until a thorough review of the agency's actions are conducted by the United States Congress.' He cited a string of flashpoint incidents tied to immigration enforcement, including arrests of immigrants immediately after they appeared for legally scheduled immigration hearings, renewed family detentions, and allegations that children in family facilities were denied 'clean water, adequate food, and basic medical care.' Menéndez also pointed to a series of recent deaths in ICE custody in Texas, including a January death at a Fort Bliss facility that an El Paso autopsy has classified as a homicide.

  • On January 28, 2026, State Sen. José Menéndez sent a formal letter to Gov. Greg Abbott calling for the halt of ICE operations in Texas.
  • In January 2026, an El Paso autopsy classified the death of an ICE detainee at a Fort Bliss facility as a homicide.

The players

José Menéndez

A Democratic state senator representing San Antonio, Texas who has formally requested that Gov. Greg Abbott halt all cooperation between the state and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Greg Abbott

The Republican governor of Texas who has the authority to control how much state resources are directed to assist federal immigration enforcement efforts.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency responsible for immigration enforcement that has faced growing scrutiny over its tactics, including allegations of constitutional rights violations, family separations, and detainee deaths.

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What they’re saying

“We must first cease ICE operations before another death or unlawful detainment occurs.”

— José Menéndez, State Senator (News 4 San Antonio)

“I have grave concerns regarding the operations conducted by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and press you to cease ICE activity in Texas until a thorough review of the agency's actions are conducted by the United States Congress.”

— José Menéndez, State Senator (News 4 San Antonio)

What’s next

The governor's response to Menéndez's demand will determine the next steps, potentially shifting the fight to the courts or Capitol Hill in the weeks ahead as the national scrutiny of ICE's tactics continues.

The takeaway

Menéndez's call to halt ICE operations in Texas reflects growing concerns over the agency's alleged constitutional rights violations, family separations, and detainee deaths, adding a prominent state voice to the national debate over the appropriate role and tactics of federal immigration enforcement.