Austin Council Member Defends City's ICE Policies Against Texas AG Probe

Mike Siegel says Austin is in 'full compliance' with state law banning sanctuary cities

Apr. 16, 2026 at 7:53pm

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A cinematic painting of a lone police car parked on a dimly lit, empty city street at night, with warm diagonal streetlights and deep shadows creating a sense of quiet tension and unease.The clash between Austin and the Texas state government over immigration enforcement policies reflects the ongoing tensions between local and state authority on issues of public safety and community trust.Austin Today

Austin City Council Member Mike Siegel pushed back against the Texas attorney general's plans to investigate the city of Austin over its police department's changes to address administrative warrants from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Siegel said the city is in 'full compliance with the law' and accused the attorney general of 'grandstanding'.

Why it matters

This clash between Austin and the Texas state government highlights the ongoing tensions over immigration enforcement policies, with the city seeking to build trust with immigrant communities while the state seeks to enforce stricter cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

The details

The state is claiming Austin may have violated Texas' SB 4 (2017) law that bans sanctuary cities, after the Austin Police Department changed its general orders to address administrative warrants from ICE. The Texas Attorney General's Office sent a letter to the Austin Police Chief stating they are 'concerned that the real-world impact of this change will be decreased cooperation between the Austin Police Department and ICE'.

  • On Thursday, Austin City Council Member Mike Siegel was interviewed on the 'Inside Austin's Agenda' program.
  • The Texas Attorney General's Office announced plans to investigate the city of Austin over its ICE policies.

The players

Mike Siegel

An Austin City Council Member who pushed back against the Texas Attorney General's probe into the city's ICE policies.

Ken Paxton

The Texas Attorney General who is leading the investigation into Austin's compliance with the state's sanctuary city law.

Lisa Davis

The Austin Police Chief who received a letter from the Texas Attorney General's Office regarding the department's changes to address ICE administrative warrants.

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What they’re saying

“These attacks by the disgraced Texas attorney general only strengthen our resolve to protect and build trust with our community, with every means at our disposal. The city is in full compliance with the law, and Paxton's grandstanding does nothing to change that.”

— Mike Siegel, Austin City Council Member

“Our office is concerned that the real-world impact of this change will be decreased cooperation between the Austin Police Department and ICE. As you are well aware, SB 4 (2017) prohibits local entities from adopting policies that 'prohibit or materially limit' cooperation with ICE. Furthermore, SB 4 requires local law enforcement to honor detainee requests and prohibits restricting officers from cooperating or sharing information with ICE.”

— Texas Attorney General's Office

What’s next

The Texas Attorney General's Office has not yet responded to KXAN's request for comment, but the investigation into Austin's compliance with the state's sanctuary city law is ongoing.

The takeaway

This clash between the liberal city of Austin and the conservative Texas state government highlights the broader political tensions over immigration enforcement policies in the United States. While Austin seeks to build trust with immigrant communities, the state is pushing for stricter cooperation with federal immigration authorities, setting up a potential legal battle over the limits of local control.