Democrat Houston Mayor John Whitmire signed an executive order Friday limiting when Houston Police Department officers contact U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

The directive restricts HPD contacts to cases where an individual faces arrest on a jailable offense and holds an administrative ICE warrant. Officers will no longer reach out to ICE over nonviolent encounters or administrative warrants alone, such as during traffic stops that result only in citations.

Whitmire announced the change at a press conference, stating it aims to reduce fear and anxiety in immigrant communities. He described the move as the right action at the right time and suggested it could serve as a model for other Texas cities. The mayor noted that elections matter and referenced conversations with newly elected state leaders.

The policy reversal follows Tuesday's midterm elections in which Democrats captured several statewide offices in Texas, including the governor's race. Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Republican Greg Abbott, marking the first Democratic hold on the office in more than 30 years.

This marks a shift from prior practice. Earlier this year, city leaders had adjusted policies after Abbott threatened to withhold over $110 million in public safety funding, prompting HPD to hold individuals for a reasonable time while awaiting ICE response. Whitmire had previously defended that approach as sound policy.

Under the new order, the fact that a person may be subject to immigration enforcement alone provides no basis for contacting ICE or prolonging detention. HPD Chief J. Noe Diaz confirmed officers will contact ICE only for jailable offenses.

The decision drew immediate attention as one of the first local responses to the changed political landscape in the nation's fourth-largest city. Critics of expanded sanctuary-style measures argue such limits hinder federal efforts to remove criminal aliens and could increase risks to public safety.

Background reports from the department showed nearly 200 ICE contacts between April and September, including dozens of direct handoffs. The new rules eliminate routine interactions tied solely to immigration status.

Whitmire, who voted against related state legislation as a former senator, said the policy focuses enforcement on those posing danger rather than individuals engaged in routine activities like work or family matters.