The Houston Police Department has recently updated its policy to require officers to contact U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) if they came across individuals in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database who have deportation orders. This change follows the addition of 700,000 individuals with deportation orders to the NCIC, a national system used by law enforcement to track warrants, stolen property, and other criminal records. As a result, local police officers now have access to information on individuals with administrative deportation warrants, which was previously unavailable to them. This new policy mandates that when officers encounter a “hit” in the system, they must reach out to ICE to consult on how to proceed, with the possibility of waiting at the scene until ICE agents arrive.
The Houston Police Department has emphasized that officers do not inquire about individuals’ immigration status but are required to follow protocol when a warrant is detected in the system. However, this new directive has raised concerns among immigrant advocate who fear that it could further damage the relationship between law enforcement and immigrant communities. One example that brought this issue into focus was the case of Jose Armando Lainez Argueta, who was detained by ICE following a traffic stop for a broken windshield. His family members have criticized the police for involving ICE in an incident unrelated to any criminal activity, highlighting the emotional toll on his family, particularly his young daughter, who is struggling with the consequences of his detention.
Advocates argue that this shift in policy is part of a broader trend in which local law enforcement is increasingly involved in federal immigration enforcement. They worry that it could lead to more fear and mistrust within immigrant communities, causing people to avoid reporting crimes or cooperating with police. Some cities, such as Pittsburgh, have chosen not to cooperate with ICE over administrative warrants, in contrast to Houston’s approach.
References:
deGrood, Matt. Babbar, Tanya. “Houston Police directed to call ICE during traffic stops, including man stopped for broken window” Houston Chronicle. March 19, 2025.
McGee, Kate. “Houston police directed to call ICE on undocumented immigrants with deportation orders” The Texas Tribune. March 19, 2025.
