SAN ANTONIO – In a significant move reflecting ongoing national conversations about immigration policy, three San Antonio City Council members are advocating for a special meeting aimed at limiting the city’s cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The council members’ memo highlights concerns regarding existing state mandates that compel municipalities, including their police departments, to cooperate with ICE. These mandates, enforced by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, threaten to withhold crucial funding if cities do not comply with federal immigration enforcement. The memo suggests that the implications of the upcoming elections on November 3, 2026, could impact these policies.
In April, Governor Abbott made headlines by threatening to cut approximately $200 million in public safety funding to major Texas cities such as Houston, Dallas, and Austin unless they revised their policies perceived to restrict police cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
The council members are urging that a special meeting be convened no later than 2 p.m. on November 17 to discuss a proposed ordinance that would modify the San Antonio Police Department’s protocols regarding ICE.
The proposed ordinance outlines that “the San Antonio Police Department personnel shall contact ICE regarding a person only if that person is already going to jail on new charges or other warrants and has a positive National Crime Information Center (NCIC) hit for an ICE administrative warrant.” It further states that the mere suspicion of a person being subject to immigration enforcement should not, in itself, lead to notifying ICE or extending any detention.
This approach mirrors a recent directive by Houston Mayor John Whitmire, who similarly instructed police to reach out to ICE only when an individual is arrested for a jailable offense and has an administrative ICE warrant. While Whitmire’s order took effect immediately, it’s noteworthy that the San Antonio City Council must vote to implement their proposed ordinance.
This development in San Antonio may reflect a broader trend among cities aiming to balance local law enforcement practices with the complexities of immigration policy. As these discussions unfold, the outcomes could have significant implications for both local governance and the community’s relationship with immigration authorities.
