Houston Mayor John Whitmire announced Friday that police will no longer notify federal immigration authorities about administrative immigration warrants during routine encounters unless a person is arrested for a crime punishable by jail time.

The shift, announced days after Democrats swept key statewide races in Texas, marks a significant change in how Houston police cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Whitmire, a Democrat, signed an executive order changing the Houston Police Department’s procedures for contacting ICE, saying the move would ease fears in immigrant communities while maintaining public safety.

“I have directed the chief and HPD through an executive order that we will change our policy in regarding contact with ICE,” Whitmire said at a news conference Friday. “I do this to begin a healing process, reduce fear and anxiety across our community.”

Under the order, officers will no longer notify ICE about administrative immigration warrants during routine stops that do not result in an arrest. Police will still contact ICE if someone arrested for a new crime punishable by jail time also has such a warrant.

Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz said officers have already received updated instructions.

“If our police officers pull someone over for a minor traffic infraction and they write a citation, that person receives the citation and goes about their day,” Diaz said. “HPD will no longer contact ICE if they have an administrative warrant and they are not arrested.”

The announcement follows Democratic victories in Texas, including Gina Hinojosa’s defeat of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, James Talarico’s U.S. Senate win and state Sen. Nathan Johnson’s election as attorney general. Democrats also captured the lieutenant governor’s office with Vikki Goodwin and the comptroller’s office with Sarah Eckhardt.

“Elections matter,” Whitmire said. “New leadership, new policies, and that’s what we’re responding to.”

Whitmire said he consulted incoming state officials, whom he expects will take a different approach to Senate Bill 4, the Texas immigration enforcement law that shaped Houston’s previous policy.

Whitmire, a former state senator who voted against the law, said his administration had previously complied with state directives because of concerns about losing funding.

“We were given direction that our funding would be withdrawn if we didn’t follow their direction of contacting ICE,” Whitmire said.

In April, Abbott’s office threatened to withhold roughly $110 million in public safety grants after Houston restricted detentions based solely on administrative immigration warrants. The city subsequently revised its policy to require officers to contact ICE when administrative immigration warrants appeared during background checks.

Whitmire acknowledged that the decision could prompt possible backlash from state or federal officials but said he was prepared to be held accountable.

“I accept that responsibility. I’m doing what’s in Houston’s best interest,” he said, adding that he hopes other Texas cities follow suit.

Diaz said officers’ interactions would continue to be monitored through department records and body camera footage reviews. He emphasized that Houston does not participate in the federal 287(g) Program, which authorizes certain local agencies to carry out immigration enforcement duties.

Whitmire said the change would allow residents to work, attend school and carry out daily activities without fearing that routine police encounters could trigger immigration enforcement.

“Unless you commit a new crime, a jailable offense, you have nothing to worry about,” he said.

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