Houston City Council Member Abbie Kamin is raising concerns following reports of heightened U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity across the city — including in the southwest area of District C, which she represents.

In a statement released this week, Kamin addressed the growing number of accounts from residents who have witnessed ICE detainments and increased enforcement operations.

“Now is not the time for us, as citizens, to keep our heads down,” Kamin said. “We have a responsibility to bear witness, to stand up and protect our neighbors who may not be able to safely speak out for themselves. When they come for one of us, they come for all of us.”

Kamin emphasized that while she supports appropriate law enforcement action against individuals who pose a legitimate public safety risk, she believes the recent ICE operations have gone beyond that scope.

“If an individual—regardless of immigration status—poses a public safety risk, I have trust in local law enforcement to act and enforce our laws. But that is not what is unfolding,” she said. “Federal and state agents are descending upon our city, blanketly discriminating, racially profiling, and literally ripping families apart. The images and stories we are hearing are inhumane and heart-wrenching, impacting countless families and traumatizing little children.”

The council member warned that such aggressive tactics can undermine community trust and make Houston less safe overall.

“Terrorizing Houstonians and stripping individuals of due process and their rights doesn’t make us safer,” Kamin added. “When people lose trust in law enforcement and are too afraid to report crimes, Houston’s families — including domestic violence victims — are pushed into the shadows.”

Reports of Heightened ICE Activity

Recent data confirm an increase in ICE enforcement across Texas and in the Houston region. According to a Texas Tribune analysis, daily ICE arrests statewide have more than doubled in 2025, jumping from an average of 85 to 176 per day. Both the Houston and Dallas field offices reported roughly a 30 percent increase in daily arrests.

A July 2025 Axios Houston report found that the share of Houston-area ICE detainees without criminal convictions had nearly quintupled since January, signaling a broader sweep of individuals without criminal records.

Additionally, data obtained by the Houston Chronicle show that calls from the Houston Police Department to ICE surged more than 1,000 percent this year — often stemming from traffic stops rather than serious criminal investigations.

These figures highlight the expanded scope of immigration enforcement in the Houston area and the concerns voiced by local advocates that many detainments are affecting residents with no criminal histories or pending convictions.

Community Resources and Response

Council Member Kamin said her office is coordinating with immigrant rights and legal support organizations to provide accurate information and resources for affected residents.

She encouraged the public to learn about their legal protections, seek assistance from local immigrant aid groups, and report any suspected instances of racial profiling or civil rights violations.

“Houston’s strength is its diversity,” Kamin said. “If trust is broken and fear takes over, we all lose. I will continue to push for transparency, accountability, and humane treatment — because the strength of our city depends on every resident feeling valued and protected.”