Austin city leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting immigrant communities following a series of executive actions on immigration issued by President Donald Trump early in his presidency.
In 2017, Texas Senate Bill 4 was passed, limiting the ways in which Austin and other local governments in Texas can respond to federal immigration law. The bill mandates that local law enforcement cooperate with federal immigration operations, a requirement highlighted in Trump’s executive order on January 20. As a result, the Travis County Sheriff’s Office is obligated to comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requests for transferring immigrants in custody for possible deportation.
“Nothing has changed for the Travis County Sheriff’s Office,” said Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez in an email. “We are committed to public safety and law enforcement. As always, we will enforce the laws of the State of Texas.”
On January 28, Governor Greg Abbott announced the creation of regional “tactical strike teams,” directing all Texas state agencies to assist in federal immigration operations.
“DPS’ tactical strike teams will help the department focus on preventing, detecting, and addressing criminal activity, including the arrest of criminal illegal immigrants in Texas,” a Department of Public Safety spokesperson said in an email.
In response to ICE actions in Austin on January 26, Austin City Council member José “Chito” Vela, a former immigration lawyer, emphasized the challenge of building trust between local law enforcement and immigrant communities. He stated that serving immigrant communities is a long-term effort that involves more than just offering “know your rights” sessions but also requires proper training and real-world application.
“There are four years left of this,” Vela said. “This is not about what we do next week. This is about what our community will look like in 2028. How will our immigrant community be supported and protected?”
Vela highlighted the strong leadership in Austin during Trump’s first administration, backed by city council actions to protect immigrant communities. Notably, in 2018, the City Council passed “Freedom City” resolutions that sought to eliminate racial profiling in police activities and required city police to inform individuals of their right to refuse questions regarding immigration status.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis confirmed in an interview with KUT on January 31 that Austin police will not participate in immigration enforcement. Vela also pointed out that the Austin Police Department would only inquire about immigration status in cases involving U-Visa holders, specifically for victims of crimes like family violence.
“APD’s focus has always been, and will continue to be, on building community trust, preventing victimization, and addressing quality-of-life issues,” the Austin Police Department said in an email. “Our mission is to ensure the safety and well-being of all Austinites, regardless of their background or immigration status.”
Vela urged communities to avoid panic and instead focus on “living through the fear.” He stated that past federal immigration policies can guide future responses at the city level.
“We’ve always been a pro-immigrant city,” Vela said. “We will continue to do what we can locally to ensure that we remain a welcoming and supportive community for our immigrant neighbors, no matter what happens around us.”
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