Houston Mayor Addresses Immigration Enforcement Presence

Whitmire says HPD does not interact with ICE, only concerned about public safety

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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In a press conference following the State of the City address, Houston Mayor Sylvester Whitmire addressed concerns about the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in the city. Whitmire stated that the city does not interact with ICE and that the Houston Police Department is only concerned with enforcing local and state laws, not immigration status.

Why it matters

The mayor's comments come amid ongoing tensions around immigration enforcement in Texas, with some cities taking a more confrontational approach with federal authorities. Whitmire's stance of limiting cooperation with ICE aligns with Houston's reputation as a welcoming city for immigrants, who make up a significant portion of the population.

The details

Whitmire estimated that there are only around 70 ICE officers operating in Houston, compared to 3,000 in Minneapolis. He said HPD officers are required by law to check people's backgrounds, and that the department referred 74 immigrants to ICE last year. The mayor contrasted Houston's approach with other Texas cities that have been more engaged with federal immigration enforcement.

  • In January 2026, the New York Times reported that Houston led the nation in ICE arrests, though the Times later clarified that the numbers represented a 54-county region in Southeast Texas.
  • On February 12, 2026, Whitmire made these comments during a press conference following the State of the City address in downtown Houston.

The players

Sylvester Whitmire

The mayor of Houston, Texas, who has taken a stance of limiting the city's cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Houston Police Department (HPD)

The local law enforcement agency in Houston, which Whitmire says is only concerned with enforcing local and state laws, not immigration status.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency responsible for immigration enforcement, which Whitmire says has a minimal presence in Houston compared to other Texas cities.

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What they’re saying

“We do not interact with ICE. ICE has very few officers here.”

— Sylvester Whitmire, Mayor of Houston (chron.com)

“We are carrying out city and state laws. We do not ask or care what your immigration status is.”

— Sylvester Whitmire, Mayor of Houston (chron.com)

“HPD referred by law 74 immigrants to ICE last year.”

— Sylvester Whitmire, Mayor of Houston (chron.com)

What’s next

The mayor's comments suggest Houston will continue to maintain its stance of limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities, in contrast with some other Texas cities. This approach is likely to continue being a point of discussion and debate around immigration enforcement in the state.

The takeaway

Houston's mayor has taken a clear position of minimizing the city's involvement with ICE, reflecting the city's reputation as a welcoming place for immigrants. This stance differs from the approach in some other Texas cities, highlighting the ongoing tensions around immigration enforcement across the state.