Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on Apr. 16 that he has filed a lawsuit against Houston City officials, including Mayor Whitmire and city councilmembers, for adopting an ordinance that he says violates Senate Bill 4 passed in the 2017 Legislative Session.
The lawsuit alleges that the recently adopted Houston ordinance unlawfully restricts local law enforcement’s cooperation with federal immigration authorities by preventing police from stopping, arresting, or detaining individuals based on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) administrative warrants while working in the field. According to Paxton, this policy directly contravenes SB 4, which prohibits Texas cities from enacting policies that limit the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
Paxton said his office seeks to permanently repeal the ordinance and ensure legal protection for law enforcement officers who cooperate with federal officials. “I will not allow any local official to push sanctuary policies that make our communities less safe,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Under my watch, no Texas city will be a safe harbor for illegals. The Texas Legislature passed strong legislation that specifically stops the type of lawless ordinance that Houston adopted. Houston has no authority to ignore the Constitution and the laws duly enacted by the Legislature. I’m calling on Houston to immediately repeal this ordinance.”
The Attorney General of Texas operates through 117 offices across the state to support its various divisions according to the official website. The agency employs more than 4,000 people across 38 divisions and manages over 30,000 cases each year through about 750 attorneys according to its official website.
In addition to enforcing state laws such as SB 4, the Attorney General’s office provides legal counsel for government entities and defends residents through consumer protections and other public interests according to its official website. Its responsibilities include coordinating efforts among divisions like child support enforcement and consumer fraud prevention according to its official website.
As this case moves forward in court, observers are likely to follow how it could affect local control over immigration policy in Texas cities as well as broader cooperation between state and federal authorities.
