History, politics, memory, and commentary from a Tejano point of view.
John Whitmire has made a 180-degree change in his stance on ICE. Why?
July 15, 2026
Houston Police Department Chief J. Noe Diaz sent a letter to the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety requesting the Texas Rangers conduct their own investigation into the shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an ICE agent.
“During the past week, Chief Diaz and Mayor Whitmire have spoken several times with state and local agencies to ensure a transparent and thorough investigation following the deadly ICE shooting. This afternoon, the mayor directed Chief Diaz to send the letter in response to the DPS letter to state lawmakers saying it needed a formal request. This step is intended to formalize the request and pledge full resources to ensure communication, accountability, and transparency throughout the process,” a statement from a city spokesperson read.
I keep asking myself why Whitmire had a change of heart. Up until very recently, he has always been on the side of the state and with ICE, starting with his misinformation about whether HPD was helping ICE. A sudden change in position does not help him politically; at least I don’t believe it will, because the MAGAs are not going to take it too kindly to his change of heart. Unless polls now show that, at least in Houston, the MAGAs are okay with the request. John Whitmire won with the help of Republicans, dumb white progressives, and the Latino community. Whitmire has lost the white progressives and could have been on the verge of losing the Latino community’s support if he were to continue supporting ICE.
I don’t say much, if any, nice things about Whitmire; he brags enough on himself, and he doesn’t need me beating his drum. But he has appointed a good number of Latinos to high positions within his administration.
One thought is that he is no longer considering running again, which came from a person who would be in a position to know. So he can quit playing politics. Whether he is or he isn’t, Latinos were very helpful with his long political career, and he did get many of those kissers elected to office. Not bad, but if a boss is needed, one who looks like your own may be a better role model for the children. I am not saying that being a politician is worth emulating. Well, President of the United States would be nice. Then start deporting all those MAGAs to shithole countries that would love to have them.
Whitmire keeps lying about not helping ICE.
Routine traffic stops do not have to result in a call to ICE, but HPD has chosen to do so. Why?
Whitmire has shown high insensitivity toward the immigrant community, as evident by his statement concerning the Gulfton Community.
“Whitmire’s comments last month about rapid transit in Gulfton “reveal a shocking level of ignorance and prejudice.”
Nonprofit newsroom Houston Public Landing published the mayor’s comments, where he was quoted as saying the Gulfton population is largely undocumented and wants basic services.”
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents responded to the calls and detained people a smaller percentage of the time, around 24%, but the mere fact that police are calling them on routine traffic stops has immigration advocates concerned.
In addition to instilling fear in immigrant communities about simply driving around town, Canales-Pelaez said the trend of police calling immigration authorities on traffic stops concerns her because those are the times when officers seem to have the most discretion on how to handle the situation.
The agency’s policy stipulates that officers must call ICE when they’ve legally detained someone, but the guidance is silent on whether officers must call authorities on cases outside of those instances, such as on crime victims and during traffic stops, she said.
Despite the growing number of reports detailing local police’s communications with ICE, Mayor John Whitmire and agency leaders have stringently denied cooperating with immigration authorities.
A spokesperson for the mayor said he’s been consistent that the agency will help people regardless of immigration status. But officers have no choice but to contact any agency when they find a warrant.
Well, it seems there is a choice, but Whitmire and at least some HPD Officers are doing their part to go after the immigrant community.
I have always believed that John Whitmire looks at Mexicans as being second-class people, not worthy of respect by White people like him. Source
