Texas AG Sues Houston Over Sanctuary City Ordinance Limiting ICE Cooperation

The lawsuit aims to block a new Houston policy that ended a requirement for police to wait for ICE agents.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 8:35pm

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An abstract, fragmented painting of a government building or legislative chamber, with overlapping geometric shapes and waves of dark blue, teal, and orange colors, conveying a sense of political tension and conflict.The legal clash over Houston's new sanctuary city ordinance reflects the high-stakes political battle over immigration policy between state and local governments in Texas.Houston Today

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the city of Houston and its mayor and city council members over a new 'sanctuary' ordinance that limits cooperation between local authorities and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The ordinance, passed in a 12-5 vote, ended a Houston police policy that required officers to wait at least 30 minutes for ICE to arrive if a suspect had an immigration warrant.

Why it matters

The lawsuit is the latest clash between Texas state officials and local governments over immigration enforcement policies. The state's 2017 Senate Bill 4 prohibits local policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, setting up a legal battle over the extent of state versus local control on this issue.

The details

Paxton's lawsuit names Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, the city's 16 council members, and Houston Police Chief J. Noe Diaz as defendants. Paxton argues the ordinance violates the state's 2017 law that prevents local governments from adopting policies to limit federal immigration enforcement. Houston officials have defended the ordinance as protecting residents' constitutional rights.

  • The Houston City Council passed the sanctuary city ordinance in a 12-5 vote last week.
  • Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened to freeze public safety funding if Houston does not rescind the ordinance.

The players

Ken Paxton

The Texas Attorney General who filed the lawsuit against Houston over the sanctuary city ordinance.

Sylvester Turner

The mayor of Houston, named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

J. Noe Diaz

The Houston Police Chief, named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

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What they’re saying

“I will not allow any local official to push sanctuary policies that make our communities less safe. Under my watch, no Texas city will be a safe harbor for illegals.”

— Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General

“It's no longer a question about whether the City should go to court. We're already there. The Mayor and City Council must vigorously defend the law we voted for and that the City Attorney deemed legal. I stand ready to work with my colleagues to defend our laws and protect Houstonians' constitutional rights.”

— Alejandra Salinas, Houston City Council member

What’s next

A special Houston City Council meeting scheduled for Friday was pushed back after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott extended the deadline for the city to respond to his threat to freeze public safety funding if the sanctuary city ordinance is not rescinded.

The takeaway

This lawsuit highlights the ongoing tensions between Texas state officials and local governments over immigration enforcement policies. The outcome could set precedents around the balance of power between state and local authorities on this issue, with significant implications for how sanctuary city policies are implemented across the state.