San Antonio City Council members Jalen McKee‑Rodriguez (District 2), Teri Castillo (District 5) and Ric Galvan (District 6) announced they are withdrawing the special‑meeting request filed on Nov. 6 to examine a proposed ordinance that would restrict the San Antonio Police Department’s cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Reason for withdrawal
In a joint statement, Councilmembers Galvan and Castillo said the wording of their three‑signature memo required reworking. They emphasized a need for “effective, clear, and responsible” language that protects San Antonio residents, respects constitutional rights, and allows police to focus on their primary duty of public safety.
Proposed ordinance details
The original memo proposed that SAPD personnel may contact ICE only when a person is already being taken into custody on new criminal charges or other warrants and has a positive National Crime Information Center (NCIC) hit for an ICE administrative warrant. The memo stated that mere suspicion of immigration status should not, by itself, trigger ICE contact, prolonged detention, or custody.
Next steps
The council plans to bring a revised discussion before the full City Council at a later date. Any ordinance would still require a council vote before becoming policy.
Broader context
The request coincided with Houston Mayor John Whitmire’s recent directive that his police force contact ICE only under the same limited circumstances. Both cities are navigating state mandates that threaten to withhold funding from jurisdictions that do not cooperate with immigration enforcement.
San Antonio officials have not indicated when the revised proposal will be resubmitted, but they reaffirmed their commitment to a policy that reflects the city’s values while safeguarding public safety and constitutional freedoms.
Original reporting: San Antonio, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
