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Tag: Immigration Customs Enforcement

  • Houston Council Members Denounce “Disgusting” ICE Tactics – Houston Press

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    It wasn’t exactly shocking when Mayor John Whitmire confirmed last week that Houston police officers have been cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement but it opened up a conversation about whether city officials have the authority to push back — and what’s at stake if they stay silent. 

    Many suspected that HPD was passing information to federal agents — although Whitmire has quibbled over the terms “cooperation” and “collaboration” — and others said they were certain of it, producing HPD call logs to back up their claims. It’s a major reason some members of the Harris County Democratic Party are attempting to admonish the mayor, meaning they won’t endorse him in a bid for re-election. 

    Whitmire last week repeated what he’s been saying for months: The officers of the Houston Police Department are not actively trying to deport people and they don’t inquire about immigration status, but when they identify an active warrant, they notify the agency that issued it, as required by law. 

    The procedures that were put in place during the Biden presidential administration and have been carried out by previous Houston mayors and the Harris County Sheriff’s Department, said Whitmire, who was elected in December 2023. 

    “We have no greater responsibility as elected officials than to comfort our community, all communities,” he said in a November 12 city council meeting. “I ran to unite Houstonians, and we’ve been successful. I’m alarmed this morning over the rhetoric in the last 48 hours by, quite frankly, some individuals that I thought I knew better. I would urge us to get back to the facts and quit alarming people unnecessarily and quit politicizing an emotional issue.”

    Whitmire’s original comment — “I’m not going to say that we’re not cooperating with ICE because that’s frankly not true” — prompted a firestorm of backlash from the men and women who set policy with the mayor twice a week and don’t want their constituents to feel unsafe in Houston. 

    Councilman Mario Castillo, who represents Near Northside and portions of downtown and Houston Heights, issued a statement saying he would pause his district’s allocations for HPD overtime requests until he has assurance that those dollars aren’t supporting HPD and ICE coordination. Castillo’s grandfather was an immigrant, according to the council member’s bio. 

    Castillo told the Houston Press on Sunday that he asked for transparency, and he got the information he needed when the president of the Houston Police Officers Union explained local law enforcement procedures during last week’s council meeting. 

    “That reassurance was really important to me,” he said. “That’s why I said what I said. Transparency, clarity and public trust need to be maintained if we’re going to have public safety.” 

    Castillo walked back, at least for now, the threat to withhold overtime pay but acknowledged that Houstonians are anxious and confused by headlines declaring that the mayor says he’s working with ICE.

    “It raised a lot of questions,” he said. “It brought the anxiety up. To me, it was something that jeopardized the public’s trust with law enforcement, and that’s concerning, because we know how vital it is to have public trust with our local law enforcement, which is why I asked for more transparency and clarity around what that meant.”

    Asking for clarity isn’t politicizing the issue, Castillo said. It was simply an effort to reassure fearful residents that they can call the police department when they’re in need. 

    During the public comments portion of the November 12 meeting, resident Adriana Tellez said the Mexican community is hurting. Being undocumented is a civil, not criminal offense, Tellez said, and Houston depends on immigrants for its labor force. 

    “You have told people that ICE operations in Houston only target people with criminal records, and that is not true,” Tellez said to the mayor. “We have seen mothers and fathers with no warrants, with no criminal records, dragged out of their cars in front of their children. We have witnessed bounty hunters posing as federal agents storming our neighborhoods and arresting citizens and undocumented residents.” 

    Such action is deplorable, many elected officials agreed, but they said it’s not initiated by HPD. 

    Doug Griffith, president of the Houston Police Officers Union, said that when an officer intends to arrest someone after a traffic stop or service call, they run a background check through the National Crime Information Center database, a procedure required by law. 

    “If they are wanted by any agency, no matter who it is, then we have to contact that agency and see if they want them,” Griffith said. “That goes for ICE or the FBI.”

    “Do we drive around looking for people to see if they have an ICE detainer? No,” he added. “We don’t have the manpower for that. We are still 1,500 officers down. That is not our job. We’re not working with ICE. We don’t care about ICE. They have their own job function, whether you agree or disagree.” 

    City Attorney Arturo Michel said Houston officials could be held liable “both civilly and criminally” if they attempt to end the existing coordination with ICE because state law prohibits such action. 

    A July survey conducted by Texas Southern University showed that 95 percent of respondents believe immigrants living in the country illegally who commit violent crimes should be deported.  Several council members said last week that the current conversation isn’t about whether violent criminals should be deported.

    While there appears to be disdain for the strong presence of federal agents in Houston, there’s not much the city council can do about it, said At-Large Councilman Julian Ramirez, an attorney who was elected in December 2023 on a public safety platform.

    “Can we legally limit ICE’s authority to enforce immigration laws in the city? No. Can we take a look and offer input and suggestions? Not necessarily in an official capacity, but I think individual council members can do that,” Ramirez said. “It’s hard to discern what’s going on with ICE. There are anecdotes that we hear, but I don’t think that ICE is sharing a lot of information on what their actions are. At least they’re not reaching me. I think change will happen when the federal government recognizes the economic consequences of mass deportation.” 

    Ramirez and his chief of staff Leah Wolfthal created Bringing Houston Together, an initiative to foster dialogue and communication among people with differing opinions. The pair hosted an event in July that focused solely on immigration and met again last week, joining forces with Council Member Sallie Alcorn, to talk with residents about immigration and free speech. 

    Ramirez said he asked the city’s legal department why HPD was referring administrative warrants to ICE when they’re issued by immigration personnel rather than judges. He said he was referred to Senate Bill 4, signed into law in 2017, which prohibits “sanctuary cities” and limits what municipalities can do when it comes to setting policies. 

    “My understanding is that SB 4 prevents the city from enacting policies that protect immigrants from ICE,” Ramirez said. “It was litigated and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals kept SB 4 in place. It was never overturned, and as a city, we’re constrained to follow SB 4.” 

    The council member told the Press he doesn’t think the city has done a good job of explaining that. Additionally, he said, few people are talking about the potential repercussions of not cooperating with the federal government. It could result in the loss of hundreds of millions in funding for things like disaster relief, he said. 

    There are significant concerns not just from the immigrant community but that Houston could stop growing and the economy could tank if mass deportation continues, Ramirez said. He added that he’s had private conversations with federal officials who indicate that ICE’s current approach could be scaled back after the March 2026 primaries. 

    “If you want to change immigration policy, the federal government has the authority to do that,” he said. “There’s not a whole lot that the city can do.”

    Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested 422 undocumented people in Houston during a week-long raid in May. Credit: Screenshot

    Council Member Abbie Kamin, who is reportedly gathering support to become the next interim county attorney if current office-holder Christian Menefee is elected to Congressional District 18, said legal residents are being denied due process. 

    “I trust HPD,” Kamin said. “Regardless of immigration status, if someone poses a public safety risk to our community, it is local law enforcement’s job to enforce our laws, and I have faith in them to do that. We are grappling now as a city where we are seeing something horrific taking place. For many, there are warrantless searches that are occurring. There are stops that are occurring that include racial profiling.”

    Griffith, the union leader, pointed out that ICE agents are federal law enforcement officers. He cautioned against the narrative that we must “fight” against them. Kamin said no one is advocating for assaulting a police officer. 

    “When people say fight, what they’re talking about is protecting the community that is under assault right now,” she said, adding that there appears to be a sentiment of, “give them what they want so we can avoid a heavier hand.”

    “We cannot throw Houston families under the bus on a hope or a prayer that it will prevent a heavier hand,” she said. “The stories and the images that we are seeing are inhumane. They are heart-wrenching. They are traumatizing children. The conditions in which they are being kept are also inhumane.” 

    Kamin referenced a recent lawsuit in which Attorney General Ken Paxton alleged the Harris County Commissioners Court violated the Texas Constitution by funding organizations that provide legal services for undocumented persons. 

    “Mayor, you said it shouldn’t be political,” Kamin said. “This is about protection. Political is the cheap shots like Attorney General Paxton just made, filing a lawsuit against the county on drummed-up charges and grounds that are absolutely absurd when the county steps up to provide funding for the legal defense of children.” 

    Councilman Joaquin Martinez said his next-door neighbor, a man who had no criminal history, was recently deported to El Salvador. The man’s wife reached out to Martinez, and he said it’s been one of the “heaviest” things he’s dealt with as a council member. He said his mother lived in Houston for 40 years and was not a U.S. citizen. “This is personal to me,” he said. 

    “I challenge folks who have privilege, who have a voice, to be thoughtful, take a few steps back and think about the folks who are getting deported who are not criminals,” he said. “What ICE is doing is disgusting. I think everyone can agree to that. At what point do we, especially in these positions, provide some peace in this chaos or do we continue to inflame these conversations?” 

    He said he believed and trusted that the mayor and Houston police are following the law. 

    While Whitmire’s narrative has shifted into, “Don’t blame HPD for following the law,” one city council hopeful is campaigning on the premise that Houston officials should explore all options. 

    Alejandra Salinas, a candidate for the At-Large Place 4 City Council seat, said council members can pass ordinances to try to protect the community.

    “We can try to work with the mayor and police department to try to figure out what options we have under state law,” she said. “I think we should be asking those questions. Some states have passed laws that say ICE can’t go into certain spaces like churches and hospitals without Article 3 warrants. Where can we fight back and bring litigation against the state and federal government to protect our communities in Houston?”

    “I think we need to have all the options on the table because what’s happening is frankly un-American,” she added. “There’s nothing wrong with going after violent criminals, but that’s not what’s happening right now.” 

    Houston City Council candidate Alejandra Salinas talks to a supporter at a fundraising event on November 16. Credit: April Towery

    Salinas is facing former Houston Councilman Dwight Boykins in a December 13 runoff election. Boykins hasn’t said much about immigration on the campaign trail, focusing on public safety and infrastructure as his top priorities. 

    However, during an October candidate forum, Boykins said he would be strongly opposed if he became aware that Houston police were using city resources to separate families. At the same forum, hosted by Houston Progressive Caucus, Boykins said he didn’t believe Whitmire had taken any actions that needed to be undone. 

    Over in southwest Houston, retired Cypress-Fairbanks ISD police officer Ramon Hernandez said his neighbors are scared, “whether they’re documented or not.” Hernandez told the Press that officers have discretion when determining whether to send someone on their way with a warning if an administrative warrant is flagged. 

    “You do have to follow the law,” Hernandez said. “The question is, what is the law? There’s always going to be cooperation, but what is mandatory? Texas police officers have a lot of discretion, especially when it comes to warrants. When a warrant pops up on the person you stopped, the next step is to confirm. Those officers can choose to confirm or not confirm. If it’s a Class C [misdemeanor], they’re probably going to give a verbal warning.” 

    Texas Rep. Christina Morales, D-Houston, hosted a fundraiser for Salinas on Sunday and has called for transparency and accountability around the immigration issue. The state rep held a press conference outside a Houston-area Home Depot last week and said that immigrant families “deserve safety, dignity and trust, not fear, raids and silence.” 

    State Rep. Christina Morales, D-Houston, right, pictured at a campaign event for Alejandra Salinas on November 16, has condemned the practices of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Houston. Credit: April Towery

    Whitmire said he’s met with Democratic Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia to build consensus and express concerns in Washington, D.C., and with Sen. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, at the state level. 

    “We are a city of immigrants. We know that; it’s our strength,” he said. 

    The mayor scoffed at “clickbait” headlines that Houston police officers called ICE more than 100 times this year to alert the agency of people who had active immigration warrants, compared to nine times last year. He said that of those nine calls last year, “ICE showed up for three.” 

    “HPD, under the leadership of Chief [Noe] Diaz, has done a professional job,” he said. “It’s a complex issue. I’ve been on surges at the after-hours clubs. Fifty or 100 immigrants will pour out of a club at 4 in the morning. No one with HPD inquires as to their immigration status. Individuals are checked for drugs and firearms and then sent home. When people are pulled over, they’re never asked about their immigration status. That has been the policy since day one.”

    The mayor added that he gets calls from across the nation about how Houston has managed to “not escalate matters.” He questioned why people are badmouthing him and HPD over such a sensitive issue when they’re not attacking the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, which follows the same protocols. 

    “You’re harming the community that we’re all committed to serve and comfort,” he said. “When people see social media or clickbait that says HPD is doing this wrong and involved in the enforcement of immigration and ICE laws, we know factually it’s wrong. There’s not one scintilla of evidence to demonstrate that.” 

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

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    April Towery

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  • Ken Paxton Sues Harris County Over Immigrant Legal Services Fund – Houston Press

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    In a move that Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee referred to as a “cheap political stunt,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued county commissioners this week, alleging they violated the Texas Constitution by spending $1.3 million on immigration assistance programs. 

    Paxton’s 17-page legal filing, submitted Monday evening in a Harris County District Court, names Judge Lina Hidalgo and all four county commissioners, saying they funneled taxpayer money to “radical leftist organizations that will use the money to oppose the lawful deportations of illegal aliens.” 

    The AG says the allocation is a violation of the Texas Constitution’s “gift clause,” because the funds serve no public purpose and instead “subsidize the legal defense of illegal aliens who ought to be deported.”

    “We must stop the left-wing radicals who are robbing Texans to prevent illegals from being deported by the Trump Administration,” Paxton said in a press release. “Beyond just being blatantly unconstitutional, this is evil and wicked. Millions upon millions of illegals invaded America during the last administration, and they must be sent back to where they came from.”

    Paxton is running for U.S. Senate, challenging incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, both Houston Republicans, in the March primary.

    Menefee, who is in a runoff with former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards to fill the unexpired term of the late Sylvester Turner in U.S. Congressional District 18, said the program funded by county commissioners is “perfectly legal.”

    “It ensures that people in our communities have access to due process, something every American should support,” Menefee said in a statement. “My office will fight back and defend Harris County’s right to lead with fairness, compassion, and common sense, no matter how many times Republican state officials try to erase that.”

    Harris County created the Immigrant Legal Services Fund in 2020 to provide deportation defense services for immigrants. Last month, the court voted to renew a contract with five agencies: BakerRipley, the Galveston-Houston Immigrant Representation Project, Justice for All Immigrants, KIND, Inc. and the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Service. Distribution of the funds was set to begin January 1, but Paxton filed a temporary injunction to halt any money from changing hands. 

    Menefee, who has successfully sued the Trump administration multiple times this year, appeared confident that Harris County would prevail. 

    “This lawsuit is a cheap political stunt,” Menefee said. “At a time when the president has unleashed ICE agents to terrorize immigrant neighborhoods, deport U.S. citizens, and trample the law, it’s shameful that Republican state officials are joining in instead of standing up for Texans.”

    Commissioner Lesley Briones said in a statement that, in Harris County, “we proudly respect constitutional rights, we will fight this lawsuit and trust justice will prevail in the courts.” 

    “Unlike Ken Paxton, who brazenly allows the Trump Administration’s masked ICE agents to arrest U.S. citizens in violation of the law, we believe people who have a legal right to remain in the country deserve access to justice and due process,” she said. “This lawsuit is an unjustified attack on our legal system and fundamental fairness.”

    “Violent criminals can and should be deported,” Briones added. “At the same time, we will fight to protect everyone who has a legal pathway to citizenship and avoid needless family separations in the pursuit of the American dream.” 

    Harris County’s Immigration Legal Services Fund is for residents who have been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, based on household income. For example, a single individual must make less than $52,200 per year to qualify for assistance. 

    Assistant Attorney General Anthony Dolcefino is representing Paxton’s office in the lawsuit and said the defense fund doesn’t benefit the public and was motivated by the commissioners’ opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration policies. 

    The lawsuit quotes Commissioner Rodney Ellis saying in court, “As  ICE raids ramp up and federal attacks target communities of color, it’s essential for Harris County to do everything we can to protect our residents, no matter their immigration status.”

    Commissioner Adrian Garcia, a former sheriff, asked whether the commissioners court could “make some request short of a demand that [Harris County] law enforcement not cooperate with ICE,” the lawsuit states. 

    “[Garcia’s] remarks further illustrate that Harris County’s decision to fund deportation-defense services is driven by opposition to federal immigration enforcement rather than by any legitimate public purpose,” according to Paxton’s legal filing.

    Commissioner Tom Ramsey, the lone Republican on the court, voted against funding the immigration defense services but was sued anyway. 

    Immigration rights advocates have argued that it costs more to incarcerate people accused of immigration violations than to provide legal counsel. 

    Paxton sued immigration rights group FIEL Houston last year, alleging that they violated federal rules that govern nonprofits’ political involvement by criticizing Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. The case was initially dismissed by a trial court but a Court of Appeals judge ruled last month that legal action can proceed. 

    “Anti-American organizations like FIEL’s aim is to destroy our country and flood our nation with foreign invaders,” Paxton said at the time. 

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

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    April Towery

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  • Thousands Attend a Peaceful No Kings Protest in Houston – Houston Press

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    An estimated 7,000 protesters gathered for a No Kings rally at Houston City Hall on Saturday, peacefully condemning President Donald Trump and his policies. No arrests were reported at press time, but several people were treated for heat exhaustion and dehydration at the sunny afternoon event. 

    The Houston rally was one of more than 2,700 across the country, the second time such gatherings have been organized this year — and a lot has happened since the last No Kings event in June. 

    President Trump influenced Texas Republicans to draw new redistricting maps in an effort to add five red seats to the U.S. Congress. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids have ramped up. The murder of Charlie Kirk on a college campus in Utah last month escalated partisan infighting and ignited a nationwide debate on free speech. 

    And the federal government shutdown earlier this month left millions of Americans worried that they won’t be able to afford healthcare in the near future. 

    U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, took the stage as the four-hour protest kicked off at 2 p.m., accusing Trump and his administration of “wreaking havoc” on the country. 

    “If you continue to allow them to make you feel hopeless, they will win,” Crockett said. “Today is about showing the rest of the world who we are. We are bigger and badder than the bullshit that is coming out of D.C. We know what it is to love this country. We know what it is to say that we’re patriots.”

    “We know what it is to love and honor our Constitution,” she added. “And we know what lawlessness looks like. Lawlessness looks like ICE going and disappearing people. Please continue to fight. Don’t just show up at the rallies. Show up at City Hall. Show up at the school board, and make sure you show up at the polls and vote.” 

    Spectators at Saturday’s No Kings protest angled to get a photo of U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett. Credit: April Towery
    Thousands of protesters attended Saturday’s No Kings rally at Houston City Hall. Credit: April Towery

    Lisa Combest, dressed as a unicorn, and Lone Star College history professor Todd Rainer attended to “stand up to this regime.”

    “We want to have a peaceful protest to show people that, one, the left is not radical and violent, and two, that we are not going to let this happen to us,” Combest said. “I believe what they’re doing with presidential powers is obscene and an offense to the Constitution.”

    Rainer said he studies repressive military regimes and believes that the Constitution is being devalued by the current presidential administration. 

    “This country has forgotten our own history, the history of World War II and the lessons that we learned about facism,” he said. “I spent 10 years of my life protecting this country in the Army, the Navy and the Merchant Marines. Donald Trump accusing me of being a hater of America is complete and utter horseshit. The man doesn’t deserve to be a dog catcher.” 

    Lisa Combest and Todd Rainer were among thousands at Saturday’s protest. Credit: April Towery

    Neil Aquino, founder of the Houston Democracy Project and a speaker at Saturday’s rally, said the “demands and attacks from Washington and Austin will only get worse.”

    “Houstonians need to grasp that no level of government will aggressively fight for our civil rights and freedom,” he said. “Protests will often be over-policed on our own Houston taxpayer dime. When we oppose Trump, we’ll be called Antifa and terrorists and the elected officials in our Democratic-voting, diverse city will mostly be [missing in action]. There is nothing ICE can do that will be bad enough for the city to stand up for people. We are on our own.”

    A criticism of the No Kings movement from Trump’s MAGA supporters is that the protesters don’t have clear messaging; they just don’t like the President. But at Saturday’s event and at the one in June, attendees held signs with specific complaints about Trump’s tariffs, immigration policies and cuts to healthcare and FEMA. 

    Dozens of Houston police officers, including those mounted on horseback, patrolled the area around City Hall on Saturday but there did not appear to be National Guard or ICE agents present. 

    Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced earlier this week he would deploy National Guard troops to a No Kings demonstration in Austin, calling it a planned Antifa (anti-facist) demonstration and garnering a negative response from the city’s mayor Kirk Watson. 

    “Texas will deter criminal mischief and work with local law enforcement to arrest anyone engaging in acts of violence or damaging property,” Abbot said in a press release. 

    Watson said he does not condone the militarization of public streets. “Much of what we see out of Washington is to create fear and chaos,” the Austin mayor said on social media. “Unfortunately, our state engages in this, too. We should not play into these politics.”

    Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder also pushed back against Abbott, saying the governor was “doing everything he can to suck up to Donald Trump, including taking a page from Trump’s authoritarian playbook, and intimidating people exercising their First Amendment right.

    “Our cities are not warzones or military training grounds, and we do not need an unnecessary display of force at the expense of taxpayers on a peaceful protest,” he said. 

    Police, firefighters and EMTs at the downtown Houston demonstration spent much of their time tending to overheated participants and handing out cold water bottles. 

    Several participants at Saturday’s No Kings protest were treated for dehydration. Credit: April Towery
    A volunteer hands out water at a medical tent. Credit: April Towery

    A woman who identified herself as “Nara” said she was protesting on behalf of her Hispanic and Vietnamese coworkers at a Houston costume shop who are concerned they could be deported. 

    “As with most costume shops, our primary workforce is older, immigrant people with limited English,” she said. “Either [ICE hasn’t] figured out that they’re there or they’re not interested in targeting us yet, but most of the people I work with are targets. I work with a woman who has a young daughter and she was born here but she says that doesn’t matter to [ICE}. And at what point do they decide that being Jewish means I’m not white either? I would care even if I was the whitest person on earth.” 

    Nara said she was protesting in support of her Vietnamese and Hispanic coworkers. Credit: April Towery

    Criticism of the Houston Police Department’s relationship with ICE escalated earlier this week when Cesar Espinosa, executive director of the immigrant rights group FIEL, was removed from a city council meeting after accusing the mayor and police chief of lying about how they handled an incident with a 15-year-old boy with autism. 

    The teen, Emanuel Gonzalez Garcia, ended up in federal custody on October 5, after wandering off from his mother while they were selling fruit at an intersection. 

    Espinosa said HPD passed off Garcia to the Office of Refugee Resettlement, a branch of the federal health department that offers services for “unaccompanied alien children,” according to its website, and implied that minimal effort was made to reunite Emanuel with his family. 

    Police Chief Noe Diaz said Emanuel’s mother contacted police five hours after he went missing. When authorities located the child, he claimed to be homeless and from another country, Diaz said during a council meeting. 

    “Once we were not able to confirm the identity provided by the juvenile on scene and to find an acceptable party to leave them with for their safety, after exhausting all options, we contacted CPS,” Diaz said. 

    CPS said they couldn’t hold the child if he was from another country and could not provide contact information for any family members, so Emanuel was then transported to a federal facility. 

    Mayor John Whitmire addressed the matter publicly, saying, “HPD officers located the young man and spent over four hours working to reunite him with his family. When that was not possible, he was taken to Child Protective Services. Because he had no identification and could not give any names or information of family he was transferred to the Office of Refugee Resettlement.” 

    Whitmire has been accused of directing city police to cooperate with ICE, which he says he has not. By law, police who encounter a person with an outstanding warrant must notify the agency that issued it. 

    Thousands gathered for a No Kings rally at Houston City Hall on Saturday. Credit: April Towery

    Houstonians at Saturday’s gathering said they don’t trust that local police are not cooperating with ICE despite Whitmire’s repeated explanation that his officers are just following the law. Several people at the No Kings rally were circulating a petition to recall the mayor. 

    The No Kings movement is supported by chapters of Indivisible, 50501, the American Federation of Teachers and the ACLU. Organizers say they are committed to nonviolent protest and community safety, providing their own security in addition to local police.  

    Nara said she has been attending peaceful protests since she was a child and it’s an important right in a democratic society. 

    “I think the most we ever accomplish by doing this is showing how many people object to what’s happening,” she said. 

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

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    April Towery

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  • Houston Advocate Says Immigrants Are In The Civil Rights Fight of Their Lives – Houston Press

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    Cesar Espinosa has been championing civil rights for immigrants for more than two decades, and the battle is becoming increasingly more dangerous under President Donald Trump’s aggressive approach to deportation, the FIEL Houston leader said this week. 

    “I believe to my core that this is the civil rights fight of our time,” Espinosa said. “Just like other people before us gave it their all to make sure that their community was respected, that is what we are willing to do for our immigrant community. Unfortunately, there is some worry about myself and our families, but at the end of the day, I’m fighting for a bigger cause and we’re fighting to make sure other people don’t have to suffer.” 

    Undeterred by a federal government shutdown announced Wednesday morning, it appears Texas and U.S. leaders are more committed than ever to deporting undocumented individuals, whether or not they have violent criminal histories. 

    Tension geared toward Immigration and Customs Enforcement has mounted since President Trump took office in January and tasked officers with removing what he refers to as “illegal aliens” from their job sites and immigration court rather than detaining them as they cross the border. 

    Trump has hailed the effort as an initiative to deport violent criminals from the United States, but Espinosa says the government’s approach is heavy-handed and has prompted the immigrant-led FIEL Houston to ramp up its efforts. Last year the organization received one or two calls a month for legal assistance; now they’re getting 15 to 20 calls a day, he said. 

    College students have had their visas revoked and people have been placed under ICE holds for minor driving infractions, and in one case, fishing without a license. Houstonians have reported that they are uncomfortable reporting domestic violence situations, even though their lives may be in danger, for fear of being deported. 

    “We’re seeing it in real life,” Espinosa said. “Just last week, we had a woman who was suffering from schizophrenia. [Her family] called the police to try to get help for this woman, and she was just deported, with no regard for her mental health. She had no criminal convictions. She should have been taken to a hospital.”

    More than 70 percent of the people being detained have no criminal record, Espinosa said, citing statistics from Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, a nonprofit research organization that compiles government data on immigration. 

    More than 70 percent of the people being detained by ICE have no previous criminal history, according to the nonprofit research organization Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. Credit: Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse
    More than 13,000 people are currently detained in ICE facilities in Texas, according to the nonprofit research organization Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. Credit: Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse

    A majority of Harris County residents surveyed earlier this year said they generally support the deportation of undocumented violent criminals, but thousands gathered in June to protest Trump’s immigration policies at a No Kings rally at Houston City Hall. More than 2,000 No Kings protests are scheduled across the country on October 18. 

    Shooting at Dallas ICE Facility

    Two detainees at an ICE facility in Dallas were killed on September 24 when 29-year-old Joshua Jahn allegedly opened fire from the roof of a building, striking people in a van at the facility’s sally port entrance area. A third detainee was released from the hospital on Thursday and returned to ICE custody. Authorities said Jahn then turned the gun on himself and died at the scene. 

    Officials at the time said Jahn fired “indiscriminately,” and left behind handwritten notes indicating he “hoped his actions would give ICE agents real terror of being gunned down.” 

    Jahn was a white U.S. citizen who “likely acted alone” and “indicated he did not expect to survive the attack,” authorities said at a press conference after the incident, adding that the alleged shooter did not appear to be affiliated with any political group. 

    The Dallas Morning News reported that Jahn was registered as an Independent in Oklahoma. The suspect’s brother told NBC News that Jahn was not interested in politics and had not voiced opposition to ICE. 

    That brings up the issue of media accountability, said Harris County Democratic Party precinct chair, blogger and radio host Egberto Willies. 

    “Mainstream media has long served as a guardrail for establishment interests,” Willies wrote on his Substack blog, Egberto Off the Record, the day of the ICE shooting in Dallas. “When stories of political violence emerge, this machinery filters which facts amplify, which narratives dominate, and which doubts swirl in public discourse.”

    “In this case, early reporting emphasized whether the shooter was left or right, rather than centering [on] victims or demanding complete transparency,” Gillies said. “They omitted details — such as weapon type and race — in the initial framing, knowing that such omissions would direct the viewer’s assumptions.” 

    FBI Director Kash Patel said after the Dallas shooting that the “initial review of the evidence shows an ideological motive behind this attack.”

    Trump wrote on social media after the Dallas incident: “This violence is the result of the Radical Left Democrats constantly demonizing Law Enforcement, calling for ICE to be demolished, and comparing ICE Officers to Nazis.” 

    The divisive rhetoric only deepens the negative feelings that people have toward institutions and agencies, Espinosa said. “As things play out in such a public manner, with social media, of people getting arrested, assaulted, beaten up, kids getting pushed to the ground, it’s going to cement ill feelings toward the government from a lot of people,” he said. 

    “We want to say that something’s got to give and we have to find common ground, but unfortunately, this administration is not making it easy to do so,” he added. 

    The detainees who died in the Dallas shooting were not violent criminals, their family members told CNN. However, El Salvadoran national Norlan Guzman-Fuentes, 37, had prior arrests for battery, improper exhibit of a firearm or dangerous weapon, criminal mischief, driving while intoxicated, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. 

    Miguel Angel Garcia-Hernandez, a 32-year-old Mexican immigrant, had lived in the United States since he was 13 years old. He was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence in August and was later detained by immigration authorities. A CNN report said Garcia-Hernandez had previous convictions for “giving fictitious information, evading arrest, driving while intoxicated, and fleeing police.”

    Cesar Espinosa rallies a crowd at a May protest in Houston. Credit: FIEL Houston

    Espinosa said FIEL Houston does not condone violence and the organization’s leaders are worried that “politics has become so volatile that people on all sides of the aisle are turning to acts of violence to make their voices heard.”

    “We have to emphasize that the victims of this shooting ended up being immigrants,” he said. “At the end of the day there are more questions, still, than there are answers. Why were they detained? Should they have been detained? We don’t believe that should be the case, but we need to know more.” 

    The politically driven narratives about the shooter have added to confusion and neglected to address gun control and mental health issues, Espinosa added. 

    “The constant in all of this is people with mental health issues who have access to guns,” he said. “Yet we as a society and as a country refuse to address that. Whether it’s immigration or politics, anybody can be a victim to one of these scenarios.”

    Dallas City Councilman Adam Bazaldua said after the ICE shooting that the country is “spiraling into a place where hate and violence are becoming the answer far too often.”

    “We are all witnessing terror each and every day, and we know that our immigrant neighbors are bearing the brunt of it,” he said. “I’m seeing some of our political leaders rush to exploit this tragedy for political gain instead of acknowledging the pain and fear it represents.” 

    “I want to be abundantly clear: Here in Dallas — and across this country — immigrants are our friends, our neighbors, our colleagues, and our family,” the councilman added. “At a time when our communities are desperate for healing, leadership, and real solutions, we are instead met with more division and finger-pointing. We cannot continue down this path of hate and violence.”

    Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday a joint task force between state and local law enforcement that will crack down on violent crimes committed by repeat offenders throughout the Houston area. Credit: Office of the Governor

    Hours after the Dallas shooting, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said, “We will not let this cowardly attack impede our efforts to secure the border, enforce immigration law, and ensure law and order. The Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas National Guard will continue our work with the Department of Homeland Security and ICE to arrest, detain, and deport any individuals in this country illegally — without interruption.” 

    Abbott held a press conference in Houston on Wednesday, announcing the addition of state police to focus on repeat violent offenders. Neither Houston Mayor John Whitmire nor Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez was there, and those in attendance said the governor, a Republican, bashed Democratic judges for not being tough on crime. 

    Neil Aquino, founder of the Houston Democracy Project, said it was clear that “these additional state police are more resources for ICE as they terrorize the Latino working and laboring class and are more resources for Trump to enforce the suspension of civil liberties.” 

    Espinosa spoke to the Houston Press prior to Abbott’s press conference but said he expected it would result in more people getting turned over to ICE.

    “The Trump administration has made it very clear that because ICE is funded by the Department of Defense that they will not back down in terms of escalating their deportation machine,” he said. “In fact, the opposite has happened. When everybody is worrying about what’s next for our country, they have kept their focus on going after hard-working immigrant people.” 

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

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    April Towery

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  • Police agreement with ICE ‘taking it a step further’ than other Wisconsin agencies

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    The Palmyra police department is the first municipal department in Wisconsin to sign a 287(g) agreement with the federal Immigration Customs Enforcement agency. | Photo via Palmyra Public Safety Department official website

    A village police department in southeastern Wisconsin has pursued a type of 287(g) agreement with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that is not held by any other agency in the state.

    The Wisconsin Examiner’s Criminal Justice Reporting Project shines a light on incarceration, law enforcement and criminal justice issues with support from the Public Welfare Foundation.

    The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin criticized the Palmyra Police Department in Jefferson County, saying it is “partnering hand in glove with ICE to carry out this regime’s plan to deport our immigrant neighbors and loved ones.” 

    In a statement to the Examiner, interim police chief Paul Blount said the department’s focus is on criminals who threaten public safety and that this is “not a blanket immigration enforcement program.” Blount was not immediately available for an interview. 

    “If we find out that we have to participate in that aspect of it, where we’re actually going out, actively enforcing immigration policy and procedure and door to door, looking for undocumented individuals, then I would go on record on saying that we won’t participate in that,” Blount said, according to WISN 12 News. 

    He said that the agreement could be what keeps a local police department in the village, due to financial challenges, according to WISN 12 News. He also said there is a $100,000 incentive for the first arrest of an undocumented person that has been involved in a crime or is wanted, and $7,500 for each subsequent arrest. 

    According to WISN 12 News, Blount said that if the federal government approves the agreement, he would not move forward without approval from the village board. ICE’s online list currently shows Palmyra as a participating agency and includes Monday, Sept. 22 as the date of signature. 

    The Task Force Model serves as a “force multiplier,” according to ICE. It allows officers to enforce limited immigration authority while performing routine police duties, such as identifying a person who is not a U.S. citizen or national during a driving under the influence stop and sharing information directly with ICE. Agencies can carry out immigration enforcement activities under ICE supervision and oversight. 

    The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin said the department is “even taking it a step further than other agencies, instituting the most aggressive 287(g) model that gives officers the green light to stop people they think might be immigrants on the street, question them about their citizenship status, and even take them into custody.”

    The 287(g) program allows a local law enforcement agency to enforce certain aspects of U.S. immigration law. According to ICE’s online list,  Palmyra is the only police department in the state with a 287(g) agreement. There are 13 Wisconsin counties with a sheriff’s department partnering with ICE. These partnerships use the warrant service officer model or jail enforcement model, which are focused on local jails. 

    In the statement to the Examiner, Blount said that if the program is approved, it would allow officers to work in closer partnership with federal authorities. He said officers would gain access to databases and resources that help investigations and help combat serious crimes, such as narcotics trafficking and human trafficking. 

    “This is a tool, not a blanket immigration enforcement program,” Blount said. “Our focus is on criminals who threaten public safety — not law-abiding residents. The core mission of our department remains unchanged: responding to emergencies, enforcing traffic safety, and preventing crime in our community.” 

    The ACLU of Wisconsin also raised concern about racial profiling. Stateline reported that the task force agreements with ICE were discontinued in 2012 after a Department of Justice investigation found widespread racial profiling and other discrimination in an Arizona task force. 

    “This program tears apart communities and instills fear, and we must reject it in Wisconsin and everywhere else,” the ACLU said. 

    According to WISN 12 News, Blount said he will ensure there is a policy or procedure in place if the village does move forward so that residents “are protected from being profiled.” 

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