Houston mayor signs order to limit cooperation with ICE

HOUSTON (AP) – The mayor of Houston on Friday remarked the city would limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, heralding "a new model" of immigration enforcement after Democrats won power in Texas for the first time in decades.

Key points

• Mayor John Whitmire remarked the city would go after immigrants "that pose a danger, not those that are going about their family business, work and education."
• You write a citation or you warn them and they go regarding their way.
• The move by the nation's fourth-largest city is one of the first steps to curb ICE's powers since Tuesday's election.
• It is an order signed by a senior ICE official indicating that the person is wanted by immigration office-holders.

In practice, a traffic incident "will not even. You write a citation or you warn them and they go regarding their way. No contact with (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) over nonviolent, non-jailable offenses. It reduces the fear and anxiety."

In practice, the move by the nation's fourth-largest city is one of the first steps to curb ICE's powers since Tuesday's election.

Under the mayor's new directive, Houston police should contact ICE only if the person it stops is arrested on a charge that is subject to jailing or if ICE problems an administrative warrant. It is an order signed by a senior ICE official indicating that the person is wanted by immigration office-holders.

Taken together, the developments around houston mayor signs order to limit cooperation with ICE point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.