AUSTIN, Texas — In response to Houston Mayor John Whitmire’s executive order limiting when the Houston Police Department contacts ICE, and as Austin and other Texas cities signal similar changes, the Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following statement from Ammon Blair, Senior Fellow, Secure & Sovereign Nation.
“This order cuts against Senate Bill 8, the immigration enforcement law that took effect in Texas this year, and will make Houston less safe,” said Blair. “The priority for every Texas city must be the safety and security of all Texans. The state has made significant inroads in advancing security at our borders and safety in our most impacted cities, and this order puts that progress at risk. Houston should reverse course, and every Texas city and county should uphold state immigration law and strengthen security in their communities by cooperating with federal agencies and enforcing the law.”
“Houstonians deserve to know how this order will impact them,” Blair added. “HPD reported that in the most recent quarter, its officers had 88 immigration-related contacts and transferred 17 people to ICE custody. Among these contacts were a child sexual assault case, family violence cases, driving while intoxicated, discharging a firearm, auto theft and shoplifting.
“TPPF has proudly worked with state and local officials for years on policies that make Texas safer,” Blair continued. “That work has never been more important, and we will continue working with local law enforcement agencies across the state, including Houston, on policy solutions that protect all Texans.”