Texas Cities Break the Mold, Cooperate with ICE on Illegal Immigrant Encounters

While many major cities across the U.S. continue to push back against federal immigration enforcement, two of Texas' largest cities—Houston and San Antonio—are bucking the trend. Local law enforcement in these cities have implemented policies to alert ICE whenever they encounter illegal immigrants flagged by federal administrative warrants.

This policy shift aligns with ICE's recent move to file administrative warrants in the National Crime Information Center database, targeting approximately 700,000 illegal immigrants for arrest and deportation.

In Houston, law enforcement officers have begun notifying ICE when an illegal immigrant with an administrative warrant surfaces during routine interactions. Officers are tasked with coordinating directly with federal immigration authorities and may hold individuals on-site until ICE arrives to take custody. The policy gained public attention when Jose Armando Lainez Argueta, a Salvadoran national, was arrested during a traffic stop after being flagged in the system.

Similarly, San Antonio police have adopted a parallel approach. According to an internal email obtained by local media, officers are directed to contact ICE and request the presence of federal agents at the scene to arrest flagged individuals. These cases often involve previously deported felons, individuals with prior removal orders, or those with civil immigration detainer orders.

Bexar County Sheriff's Office, which operates in the San Antonio area, takes a slightly different approach. While it doesn't directly alert ICE to encounters, the agency facilitates regular interviews between ICE officials and inmates at county jails. Interestingly, ICE representatives reportedly visit the jails as often as every three hours, ensuring no opportunities are missed.

An ICE spokesperson emphasized the importance of administrative arrest warrants as a tool to enhance public safety and reduce law enforcement costs. "By leveraging all lawful means, ICE strengthens community safety and restores integrity to our nation's immigration laws," the spokesperson explained.

While these policies may draw criticism from advocates of sanctuary cities, Texas seems determined to carve its own path in immigration enforcement. It’s a bold move in a politically charged landscape, and one that will likely spark continued debate.