# Houston mayor John Whitmire reverses course on ICE cooperation after blue wave crashes in Texas

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/houston-mayor-john-whitmire-reverses-course-on-ice-cooperation-after-blue-wave-crashes-in-texas/
- Published: 2026-11-07T06:50:25+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-07T07:21:36+00:00
- Original publisher: New York Post (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://nypost.com/2026/11/07/us-news/houston-mayor-john-whitmire-reverses-course-on-ice-cooperation-after-blue-wave-crashes-in-texas/
- Topics: Celebrity, Entertainment, World

## Key points

- Houston police will not contact ICE over non-violent offences.
- Mayor Whitmire says the change will reduce community anxiety.
- Texas Republicans had threatened more than $100 million in funding.

## Summary

Houston Mayor John Whitmire has ordered police to stop contacting federal immigration authorities over non-violent offences, reversing a policy he had revised after pressure from Texas Republicans. The decision follows a Democratic election victory in Texas and, Whitmire said, aims to reduce anxiety among residents while setting what he considers more effective policy.

Police may still notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when someone is charged with a new crime and is being taken to jail. Earlier city rules limited how long officers could hold someone while waiting for ICE; Whitmire changed course after then-Governor Greg Abbott threatened to withhold more than $100 million in state funding and an investigation was launched. The Department of Homeland Security criticised the new restrictions, arguing that cooperation helps it arrest people convicted of serious crimes.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.