HOUSTON, Texas — Mayor John Whitmire and Police Chief J. Noe Diaz announced updates to the Houston Police Department’s directive on handling federal administrative immigration warrants.
The new directive clarifies how officers should respond when encountering an individual with an administrative warrant issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to a press release from the department. “For over a year, I have consistently said that HPD officers are not immigration or ICE officers,” said Mayor Whitmire. “They are required to enforce local and state laws and comply with SB4. This new directive ensures that HPD officers will not transport individuals to ICE custody, and there will be increased supervision when an immigration issue arises.”
Chief Diaz explained that the directive streamlines the process for officers dealing with administrative immigration warrants. “Starting today, when an officer receives a hit for an administrative immigration warrant, a sergeant will be called to the scene to review the circumstances, confirm the facts, and verify the existence of the warrant,” said Chief Diaz. This update aims to ensure decisions made in the field are carefully reviewed and supported by a supervisor…