Austin Mayor Asks Police to Revise ICE Cooperation Order, With Revision Done by End of 2026
AUSTIN, Texas — Austin Mayor Kirk Watson formally asked on November 5 for changes to the Austin Police Department's general order governing cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), urging Police Chief Lisa Davis and the city manager to complete the revision before the state government changes hands in January 2027. Watson said officers' duty is to protect the local community and that their time, training and attention should go to local public safety rather than federal immigration enforcement. The push comes after Texas Governor Greg Abbott's administration threatened to withhold public-safety funding to pressure Austin into honoring ICE detainer requests; an April 2026 Austin policy adjustment partly responded to state pressure but did not fully comply. As of November 7, the draft revision remains under review by the city attorney, and officials say the changes may be mostly wording rather than a wholesale overhaul; the city council and the public are expected to see the final text before the end of 2026. Watson also stressed that Austin will continue to comply with state law SB 4, which remains in effect.
Source: Office of the Mayor of Austin
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：奥斯汀市中心天际线。Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 4.0。 / Photo: Downtown Austin skyline. Via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
