Houston mayor issues order sharply limiting city police cooperation with ICE

The mayor of Houston, the most populous city in the US state of Texas, has issued an order sharply limiting the city police force's cooperation with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Mayor John Whitmire's executive order was issued on Friday (6th). It comes days after Democrats captured statewide offices in an election in Texas, traditionally a Republican-supporting state.

Under the order, Houston police will contact ICE only when a person is arrested for an offence that can carry a prison sentence. People stopped for minor traffic violations will no longer be reported to ICE.

Whitmire said he consulted Texas's newly elected governor, lieutenant governor and comptroller before making the decision.