Mayor and Police Chief Address Immigration Concerns

Mayor John Whitmire joined Police Chief J. Noe Diaz today to announce the Houston Police Department’s updated directive regarding federal administrative immigration warrants.
The announcement clarifies how police officers should respond when they encounter an individual with an administrative warrant issued by ICE.
“For over a year, I have consistently said that HPD officers are not immigration or ICE officers,” said Mayor Whitmire. “They are required to enforce local and state laws and comply with SB4. This new directive ensures that HPD officers will not transport individuals to ICE custody, and there will be increased supervision when an immigration issue arises.”
The directive announced by Chief Diaz streamlines how officers handle situations involving administrative immigration warrants.
“Starting today, when an officer receives a hit for an administrative immigration warrant, a sergeant will be called to the scene to review the circumstances, confirm the facts, and verify the existence of the warrant,” said HPD Chief J. Noe Diaz. “This ensures that any decisions made in the field are carefully reviewed and supported by a supervisor.”
The update clarifies the directions initially given to HPD officers regarding the approximately 700,000 administrative immigration warrants entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) in 2025. As with all warrants issued by any agency, HPD officers are required to notify the issuing agency, which then provides guidance on how to proceed.
The new directive was sent to all HPD officers Wednesday afternoon (March 11). It addresses recent inconsistencies in following the policy and will help ensure HPD officers remain focused on responding to the needs of Houstonians.
“Police officers are expected to do their jobs to make our city stronger and safer,” said Mayor Whitmire. “This directive will make the role of HPD clear and ensure compliance with the law.”