On April 3, a Houston police officer reported encountering a man in the street who was experiencing a mental health crisis. The report noted that the individual lacked identification and was unable to provide his name due to his mental state. Subsequently, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) became involved, identified the man, and took him into custody for deportation.
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This incident is part of a troubling pattern, as revealed in records obtained by Houston Public Media, detailing over 100 interactions between the Houston Police Department (HPD) and ICE from April to June 2026. One week later, on April 10, another officer responded to an assault complaint involving a suspect whose mother had a civil immigration warrant. The officer contacted ICE regarding the situation.
On April 21, an emergency call concerning a man threatening suicide led to police involvement. At the scene, it was discovered that an individual had an ICE warrant, prompting officers to inform ICE before departing. Additional reports indicated ongoing communication with ICE in various other incidents, including a family disturbance and a traffic stop for a non-functioning brake light.
These instances have drawn criticism from immigrant rights advocates and some city council members, particularly after a new ordinance was passed in April, aimed at limiting the cooperation between HPD and ICE. The ordinance had required previous mandates for not leaving individuals detained solely due to warrants, but this was later revised due to threats from Governor Greg Abbott to cut public safety funding, allowing officers to detain suspects while waiting for ICE responses.
Despite changes, a component of the ordinance obliges HPD to submit quarterly reports detailing its interactions with ICE. Council member Alejandra Salinas expressed concerns about the reports, which suggested HPD was contacting ICE after individuals sought help for violent threats or mental health issues. She emphasized that involving ICE in these situations does not contribute to community safety and stated her intention to pursue further accountability to restore trust in the community.
Council member Tiffany Thomas, who represents areas where several incidents occurred, echoed these concerns about transparency in HPD's reporting. She highlighted specific cases, including the arrest related to the mental health crisis and suicide attempt, which were inadequately summarized in HPD’s public reporting.
HPD, ICE, and the mayor's office did not respond to requests for comment on these matters. Additionally, Police Chief Noe Diaz did not attend a public safety committee meeting in August to answer questions about the documented interactions due to cited ongoing litigation involving a man who was deported after a traffic stop.
Erick Lopez, who was deported to Honduras in June, shared his feelings about the loss of his life in Houston, where he had family and stability. He lamented the challenges he faces in Honduras and the absence of the freedoms he once enjoyed.