San Antonio Explores Legal Options to Limit Federal Immigration Enforcement

City Council approves resolution directing staff to review policies and risks tied to new ICE detention facility

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The San Antonio City Council has approved a resolution directing city staff to evaluate a range of policy options related to federal immigration enforcement activity, including a newly purchased immigration detention facility on the city's East Side. The resolution aims to identify where the city can assert influence, increase transparency or limit involvement within the bounds of state and federal law, though it does not block federal enforcement or the operation of the detention facility.

Why it matters

The resolution comes as large-scale federal immigration operations have drawn protests in major cities, heightening local concerns now that a detention facility is expected to operate in San Antonio. The city is seeking to balance its legal authority with the desire to protect residents and increase accountability for detention-related activity.

The details

The resolution instructs city staff to inventory existing practices, assess potential new actions and outline legal risks tied to proposals aimed at protecting residents, clarifying city cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and increasing accountability for detention-related activity. City attorneys warned that some proposed actions, such as expanding legal referral services to undocumented residents or creating a justice fund to support civil rights litigation, could trigger legal action under Texas' Senate Bill 4 or jeopardize federal funding.

  • The San Antonio City Council approved the resolution on Thursday, February 13, 2026.
  • City staff are expected to return with updates and a proposed timeline on March 5, 2026, during the upcoming City Manager's Report.

The players

San Antonio City Council

The governing body of the City of San Antonio that approved the resolution.

Elizabeth Provencio

The First Assistant City Attorney who presented an overview of the city's legal options related to federal immigration enforcement.

Erik Walsh

The San Antonio City Manager who described the resolution as a way of 'setting the public's standard' while acknowledging legal and operational limits.

Jalen McKee-Rodriguez

The District 2 Councilman who said the intent behind the resolution was to test the legal boundaries of what the city can do.

Renee Good and Alex Pretti

Two U.S. citizens who were killed during aggressive federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis, which have heightened local concerns in San Antonio.

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What they’re saying

“My request of staff is that we get as close to each of these requests as legally possible. We find that line, and we push right on it.”

— Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, District 2 Councilman (San Antonio Report)

“The difficulty is it would purely be intake. There's not a mechanism for us to be able to act on that. We just want to be sure that everybody's expectations are in line. If that is in fact something you want us to proceed with doing.”

— Elizabeth Provencio, First Assistant City Attorney (San Antonio Report)

What’s next

City staff are expected to return with updates and a proposed timeline on March 5, 2026, during the upcoming City Manager's Report.

The takeaway

San Antonio is seeking to navigate a complex legal landscape as it tries to balance its desire to protect residents and increase accountability for federal immigration enforcement activity within the city, while acknowledging the limits of its authority under state and federal law.