‘HPD is not ICE,’ chief says as city officials seek to offer reassurance to immigrants
Even as the controversial “sanctuary cities” bill winds its way through the state Legislature, Houston officials came together Monday evening to reassure members of the local immigrant community that they can still use police and other city services without running into immigration problems.
“Do not fear the Houston Police Department unless you’re involved in criminal activity — then we want you to fear us,” Chief Art Acevedo told the crowd of more than 100 gathered for the southwest Houston town hallstyle panel discussion geared toward the Muslim community.
MJ Khan, Islamic Society of Greater Houston president and the event moderator, peppered city officials and prominent Muslim community members with questions about immigrant rights during the hourlong panel.
“HPD is not ICE and we don’t seek to be ICE,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said. “In this city we don’t profile. We’re not going to do that.”
The fresh reassurances from city officials come amid a downturn in crime reporting in the Hispanic community, a point Acevedo made at a news conference earlier this month and reiterated at Monday’s event.
The number of Hispanics reporting rape is down 42.8 percent over the first three months of last year, even as reporting in other demographics is on the rise, Acevedo said. Other violent crimes have registered a 13 percent reporting drop in the Hispanic community.
The city’s Department of Health and Human Services also has seen a downturn in use of services, director Stephen Williams told the crowd.
“In the last few months, the numbers of people who come to us have been diminishing, and we’re not comfortable with that,” he said. “We’re not only a welcoming city, but we’re a welcoming health department.”
Immigration attorney Maha Khalil assured eventgoers that they should not be afraid to go to the courthouse to pay tickets, and a library representative told the crowd that they can check out books without fear of deportation.
Acevedo discouraged Houstonians from spreading shaky information about immigration raids, pointing to false rumors about ICE busts at Fiesta that earlier this year seeded fear in the community.
“If it’s on Twitter, it’s probably not true,” he said.
In response to a texted-in question, Khalil addressed immigrants’ rights if ICE shows up at the door.
“If they don’t have a warrant, you don’t need to open,” she said. She advised memorizing an attorney’s number in advance and utilizing the right to an interpreter and the right to remain silent.
In response to another question, Acevedo dispelled concerns about the possibility of legislation that could force local authorities to cooperate with immigration.
“I think it’s really important in this political season that we not focus on the rhetoric. I’m not worried about a movement from the federal government to force police departments to engage in immigration enforcement,” he said. “That would be counterproductive to public safety.”
The Texas House is set on Wednesday to take up a controversial proposal that would require local sheriffs and jailers to comply with federal requests to hold on to people in the country illegally.
It is part of so-called “sanctuary cities” legislation that Gov. Greg Abbott made a priority item this session. The proposal has sparked concern among immigrant advocates as well as some law enforcement officials.
But Austin’s political machinations aside, Turner touted Houston as a diverse city that champions inclusion and relationship.
“In this city we don’t seek to divide, we don’t seek to separate,” he said.
“We don’t build walls. We build relationships.”