Houston mayor orders police to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities

Mayor John Whitmire signed a two-page order Friday restricting when Houston police may contact ICE, after Democrats won statewide office in Texas.

• The order directs Houston police to contact ICE only when a person is arrested on a jailable charge or when ICE issues an administrative warrant.
• It states that immigration status alone shall not be a basis to contact ICE, prolong a detention, or hold a person in custody.
• Whitmire said the city would pursue immigrants "that pose a danger, not those that are going about their family business, work and education."
• Whitmire signed the order after Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican Governor Greg Abbott in Tuesday's midterm elections.