City of Austin Council Message Board

Colleagues---

For some time now, I’ve said Austin “cannot and will not play into or perpetuate a policy of fear” when it comes to immigration and immigrants residing in our community. Many Austinites in our community live in real fear—fear created not by local government but by other levels of government. Austin has worked to mitigate that fear, and wherever we can, eliminate it.

I believe strongly that Austinites deserve to be safe and to feel safe. That can only happen if people feel safe calling for help and getting needed support from law enforcement and first responders.

This spring, Chief Davis and APD leadership provided clarity regarding administrative warrants, and I’m grateful for the Chief’s leadership. State leaders threatened public safety funding, applied pressure, and aimed to push Austin toward more cooperation with ICE than the law requires.

In January, new leadership takes office in the Governor’s office, the Lt. Governor’s office, and the Attorney General’s office. With the change in state leadership, I anticipate being able to better partner with the state on issues and without threats and undue pressure on local decisions, including those related to civil immigration enforcement.

I'm asking Chief Davis, working with the City Manager, to update her general orders so that they can be in effect when the new leadership comes into office to make sure that our policies align with the law and, importantly, Austin's values.

Austin Police should be focused on Austin’s public safety. Our officers signed up to protect this community, and that’s where their time, training, and attention belong. This revision lets them do that job more effectively.

State law, including SB4, is still in the books, and we’ll follow it. Our City Attorney will review the revised order before it’s issued, and we will make sure that information is relayed to the Council and public as well.

Austin is a city where people can and should seek help without fear and where our police are focused on keeping all of us safe. Our policy can and should reflect that.

I’m confident you share my strong sentiments in this regard. Thank you.

Kirk
On Behalf on Mayor Watson

Thank you, Mayor, for your words.

We absolutely agree that for far too long, our community has been living in fear. We have heard too many stories of families being separated, of neighbors being harmed, and Texans killed at the hands of ICE.

With a change in state leadership come January, we agree that we must revise APD’s general orders to restore safety and do everything within our legal authority to end the cruelty in our communities.

We ask that Chief Davis and the Manager begin this work by looking at the GOs that were drafted in early March—before Governor Abbott threatened to pull funds from City programs and further compromised the safety of our neighbors.

Our police officers should focus their time and resources on matters that keep Austinites safe.

We look forward to working together in ending ICE’s campaign of fear, violence, and intimidation and repair trust with our communities.

CM Velásquez
CM Fuentes
Mayor Pro Tem Vela