Austin Leaders Push Back on ICE Enforcement

Democratic officials call for pause in federal immigration crackdown amid growing public pressure and fear in local community.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 9:39pm

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Against a backdrop of daily protests and mounting public pressure, local Democratic leaders in Austin gathered to call for a pause in federal immigration enforcement that they say is increasingly affecting Austin families. U.S. Rep. Greg Casar and other Hispanic elected officials cited specific cases of Austin residents, including teachers and students, who have been arrested and deported by ICE. The debate has prompted public clarification from Austin police leadership, who say they do not proactively enforce federal immigration law but are bound by state law prohibiting them from limiting communications with ICE.

Why it matters

The growing tensions over immigration enforcement in Austin have led to regular protests and heightened public frustration, with local leaders facing pressure to take more aggressive action to limit collaboration between local law enforcement and ICE. The debate highlights the complex legal and political dynamics around immigration enforcement at the local level.

The details

Local Democratic leaders, including U.S. Rep. Greg Casar and Austin City Council Member José Velásquez, gathered to call for a pause in federal immigration enforcement that they say is impacting Austin families. They cited specific cases of Austin residents, including teachers and students, who have been arrested and deported by ICE. The debate has prompted a public response from Austin police leadership, who say they do not proactively enforce immigration law but are bound by a 2017 Texas law prohibiting them from limiting communications with ICE.

  • Protests against ICE enforcement have been ongoing for more than a week in the Austin area.
  • Last week, more than 10,000 people signed a petition asking the Austin City Council to pass a resolution conflicting with state law on immigration enforcement.
  • On Friday, hundreds of students in Austin walked out of school as part of a nationwide protest against ICE.

The players

Greg Casar

U.S. Representative for Texas's 35th congressional district, which includes parts of Austin.

José Velásquez

Austin City Council Member representing East Austin.

Lisa Davis

Chief of the Austin Police Department.

José Garza

Travis County District Attorney who has vowed to prosecute federal immigration agents for "unlawful conduct" in the county.

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What they’re saying

“This isn't just about Minneapolis. This is also about Austin and Travis County. This is about the AISD teachers [who] have been arrested and deported. This is about 19-year-old Any (Lucía) López Belloza of East Travis County, a college student who got a full scholarship, [and] was arrested and deported against court orders.”

— Greg Casar, U.S. Representative (statesman.com)

“We'll continue to explore every option that we have.”

— José Velásquez, Austin City Council Member (statesman.com)

“Our officers do not consider immigration status when responding to calls. Our duty is to protect public safety, respond to emergencies and uphold the Constitution for everyone in our city.”

— Lisa Davis, Austin Police Chief (statesman.com)

What’s next

The Austin City Council is expected to consider next steps to address the city's relationship with federal immigration enforcement at an upcoming meeting.

The takeaway

The debate over immigration enforcement in Austin highlights the complex legal and political dynamics facing local leaders as they try to balance public safety, civil liberties, and state laws that limit their ability to restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities.