Texas AG Ken Paxton opens investigation into Austin police over ICE policy change

The attorney general's office sent a letter to the city notifying officials of the investigation.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 5:21pm

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A vibrant, abstract painting featuring overlapping, fractured shapes and geometric patterns in shades of blue, red, and grey, conceptually representing the tensions between local and state authorities over immigration policies.The clash between Texas state and Austin city leaders over immigration enforcement policies is captured in a dynamic, fragmented visual metaphor.Austin Today

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is investigating the city of Austin over its policy on limiting how police interact with federal immigration agents. The investigation follows a policy change implemented in March by Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis that prohibits officers from arresting or detaining anyone based solely on a noncriminal warrant issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Why it matters

The new Austin police policy aims to balance limited police resources and legal constraints, but critics argue it may conflict with the state's 2017 Senate Bill 4 that bars policies limiting local police cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

The details

The attorney general's office sent a letter to the city on Friday, April 10, notifying officials of the investigation. The revised Austin Police Department general orders create a process for officers who encounter a person with an ICE administrative warrant, allowing them to provide reasonable assistance to ICE while considering other legal constraints and the need to balance limited police resources.

  • On April 10, 2026, the Texas Attorney General's office sent a letter to the city of Austin notifying officials of the investigation.

The players

Ken Paxton

The Attorney General of Texas who opened the investigation into the Austin Police Department's policy on interacting with federal immigration agents.

Lisa Davis

The Austin Police Chief who implemented the new policy in March 2026 that prohibits officers from arresting or detaining anyone based solely on an ICE administrative warrant.

T.C. Broadnax

The Austin City Manager who stated the new policy aims to help officers handle a rise in administrative warrants issued by ICE for immigration-related violations.

Kirk Watson

The Mayor of Austin who received a memo from Chief Davis about the new policy changes.

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What they’re saying

“The revised General Orders create a process for officers who encounter a person with an ICE administrative warrant. It creates mechanisms that allow officers to provide reasonable or necessary assistance to ICE, while taking into consideration other legal constraints and our need to balance limited police resources in real-world situations. We believe our general orders are consistent with SB4 and will cooperate with the Attorney General's investigation.”

— T.C. Broadnax, Austin City Manager

What’s next

The Texas Attorney General's office will continue its investigation into whether Austin's new policy on limiting police cooperation with ICE violates state law.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between local law enforcement policies and state laws regarding immigration enforcement, as cities like Austin try to balance public safety, civil liberties, and limited police resources.