Austin City Council pushes APD to reduce ICE encounters while constrained by state law

January 16, 2026

Austin City Council members spoke out after the Austin Police Department chief released a statement outlining the department's stance on interactions with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Council members urged APD leadership to pursue options that would lower the frequency of encounters between local officers and federal immigration agents.

Council members emphasized concern for the city's immigrant communities and the potential effects on trust in law enforcement. They want APD to consider procedures and training that could limit joint activity or other points of contact with ICE, while still fulfilling legal responsibilities.

City officials face a legal constraint, because state law forbids municipalities from enacting policies that would bar local police from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. That limitation narrows the tools available to the council, leaving departmental policy and operational choices as the primary levers.

The APD chief's statement prompted the council reaction, and members framed their requests as efforts to balance public safety obligations with community protections. They stopped short of proposing local ordinances that conflict with state statutes, instead calling on department leaders to report back on potential changes to practice.

Council members said they want transparency about how APD will handle requests or warrants from federal immigration agents, and they stressed the importance of clear guidelines for officers. The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between local officials seeking to protect immigrant residents and state-level rules that limit municipal authority.

City leaders did not announce specific new restrictions or changes to enforcement at the meeting, but they signaled continued oversight of APD policy on immigration-related interactions. Moving forward, the council intends to monitor the department's approach and press for measures that reduce unnecessary contact with federal immigration personnel while complying with state law.