Travis County activists press officials to restrict ICE operations after two deadly encounters

July 25, 2026

Advocates and student groups used a July 14 Travis County Commissioners Court meeting to press officials to curb ICE activity in the county after two recent fatal shootings involving the agency in Houston and Maine.

County Judge Andy Brown opened the meeting with a moment of silence for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old Houston resident who was shot and killed in an encounter with ICE earlier this month, and for others who have died during interactions with immigration enforcement.

In the wake of those killings, national reporting says agents are now required to wear body cameras when they stop vehicles. Brown told the court the county has not given ICE permission to use public property as a staging area for operations.

Advocates asked for further steps. Caitlin Corkill, speaking for two immigrant support organizations during public comment, asked the commissioners to bar ICE from county property and direct more funding to legal defense and rapid-response services. She also sought transparency on how the county budget supports local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities since the implementation of Senate Bill 8.

The federal agreement required under that state law went into effect in January and designates certain local law enforcement officials to carry out federal immigration enforcement, advocates noted. At the same time, the commissioners court's ability to limit ICE activity is constrained by Texas Senate Bill 4, which prevents local governments from passing measures that impede federal or state immigration law.

Student leaders described heightened anxiety linked to recent enforcement. Adit Raha, president of University Democrats, said members who are children of immigrants have taken extra precautions, such as carrying identification, after the incidents.

The Austin Police Department directed reporters to a revised APD policy on ICE warrants. The policy states officers should not arrest or detain someone based solely on an ICE administrative warrant, although an officer may contact ICE to verify a warrant and should avoid prolonging any detention.

Statewide advocates say they are seeing more immigration enforcement activity in Texas communities. The Workers Defense Project reported increased fear among its members, including skipped medical appointments and missed work, as people avoid leaving their homes.

ICE did not provide information about the number of operations in Travis County over the past four months and did not immediately respond to requests for comment.