Three members of the San Antonio City Council – Councilwoman Teri Castillo (District 5), Councilman Jalen McKee‑Rodriguez (District 2) and Councilman Ric Galvan (District 6) – have filed a memorandum requesting a special council meeting no later than 2 p.m. on Nov. 17. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss a proposed ordinance that would revise the San Antonio Police Department’s procedures for contacting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Proposed ordinance focuses on genuine public‑safety cases

The draft ordinance states that SAPD personnel may contact ICE only when a person is already being taken into custody on new criminal charges or other warrants and when a positive National Crime Information Center (NCIC) hit confirms an active ICE administrative warrant. The ordinance explicitly bars ICE contact based solely on a person’s immigration status, or on mere suspicion of such status, unless the individual is already facing jail time for a separate offense.

“The fact that a person is, or is suspected to be, subject to immigration enforcement shall not, by itself, be a basis to contact ICE, to prolong any detention, or to take any person into or hold any person in custody,” the memo reads. “If a person is not otherwise going to jail on new charges or other warrants, Department personnel shall not contact ICE regarding that person.”

State leadership and funding pressures in the background

The council’s request references recent statements from Governor Greg Abbott, who has warned Texas municipalities that failure to cooperate with ICE could jeopardize state public‑safety funding. In April, Abbott threatened to withhold roughly $200 million in funding from Houston, Dallas and Austin unless those cities altered policies that limit police cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

While the memo notes that “existing mandates and practices by State leadership, including Governor Greg Abbott, requiring Texas municipalities and their police departments to cooperate with ICE under threats to withhold funding will presumably be impacted by the results of the November 3, 2026 elections,” the council’s focus remains on ensuring that any local policy aligns with both public‑safety needs and constitutional protections.

Comparison with Houston’s approach

Houston Mayor John Whitmire recently issued an order directing his police department to contact ICE only when an individual is arrested for a jailable offense and carries an administrative ICE warrant. Whitmire’s directive took effect immediately, but San Antonio’s council must vote to adopt any comparable ordinance.

Both cities are navigating the tension between state‑level immigration enforcement expectations and local concerns about community trust and resource allocation. By limiting ICE contacts to cases that already involve criminal prosecution, San Antonio aims to preserve law‑enforcement resources for serious crimes while still complying with federal immigration obligations when warranted.

Council members’ rationale

Councilwoman Castillo emphasized that the proposed ordinance “protects our community’s safety by ensuring police focus on violent and property crimes, not on immigration status alone.” Councilman McKee‑Rodriguez added that the measure “upholds the rule of law while respecting the constitutional rights of all residents.” Councilman Galvan noted that the ordinance “provides clear guidance to officers, reducing confusion and potential legal challenges.”

The council’s request for a special meeting reflects a proactive approach to address the issue before the upcoming municipal elections, allowing voters to see how their representatives plan to balance public‑safety priorities with the state’s immigration enforcement expectations.

What comes next?

If the council votes to adopt the ordinance, SAPD officers will receive updated training and procedural manuals reflecting the new limits on ICE contact. The ordinance would also likely be reviewed by the city attorney’s office to ensure compliance with both state law and any applicable federal directives.

San Antonio residents and local advocacy groups are expected to weigh in during the special meeting, offering perspectives on how the policy may affect community‑police relations and overall safety.

Original reporting: San Antonio, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.