Politics

Houston Mayor Orders Police to Reduce ICE Collaboration After Democratic Upset

By Priyanka Jaiswal

After Democrats won control of Texas for the first time in decades, Houston Mayor John Whitmire signed an order directing city police to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The decision follows the election of Democrat Gina Hinojosa, who defeated Republican Governor Greg Abbott and became Texas’ first Latina governor and the first Democrat to hold the office in more than 30 years. Abbott, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, had previously threatened action against Texas cities that sought to curb immigration enforcement. Whitmire defended the move by saying, “I’ve said many times, elections matter.” The order reflects how the midterm results are already influencing policy at the local level and could spark a new clash between Democratic‑led cities and Republican state leadership over immigration enforcement.