San Antonio City Council members Teri Castillo (District 5), Jalen McKee‑Rodriguez (District 2) and Ric Galvan (District 6) submitted a memo on Nov. 6 requesting a special meeting no later than 2 p.m. on Nov. 17 to consider an ordinance that would limit the San Antonio Police Department’s cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to the San Antonio Report and TPR.
The proposed ordinance would allow SAPD officers to contact ICE only when a person is already being taken into custody on new criminal charges or other warrants and a national law‑enforcement database shows an ICE administrative warrant. An ICE administrative warrant is a civil immigration enforcement tool issued by immigration officials, not a criminal charge.
Councilmember Castillo said the measure is intended to ease families’ fears that a routine traffic stop or low‑level offense could lead to immigration detention. “Many of our families do fear that they will be pulled over for something minor that could result in detainment and the contact of ICE,” she told reporters.
The San Antonio effort mirrors recent policy shifts in other major Texas cities. In Houston, Mayor John Whitmire ordered police to stop notifying ICE solely on the basis of a civil warrant, allowing notification only when the individual is also being arrested for a jailable offense. In Austin, Mayor Kirk Watson asked Police Chief Lisa Davis to draft a new policy for when Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa takes office, after Austin previously altered its ICE cooperation following a funding threat from Governor Greg Abbott.
State law, specifically Senate Bill 4, continues to restrict local jurisdictions from adopting policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Castillo noted that the change in state leadership could reduce the likelihood of funding threats that have previously constrained local decisions.
While council members argue the ordinance will protect families, we believe limiting lawful ICE notifications could hinder SAPD’s ability to address serious crime and protect public safety. The claim that the proposal will not affect community safety does not hold up against the reality that ICE warrants often flag individuals who pose security risks, and deprioritizing such contacts may embolden illegal activity.
What’s next: The city manager and city attorney are expected to draft the ordinance for council consideration before the requested Nov. 17 meeting. If approved, SAPD would receive new guidance on when officers may contact ICE and how those contacts must be documented.
Sources: sanantonioreport.org, tpr.org
