In Austin, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside City Hall on January 20 to demand stronger protections for immigrants within the community during an “Ice Out of Austin” protest.
The event, organized by the group “Hands Off Central Texas,” featured live music and speeches from various organizations, including the League of Women Voters and the Austin Justice Coalition, who voiced their concerns regarding immigration enforcement and public safety. Attendee Amethyst Jonquile expressed her worries about the growing violence in the community, stating, “I see the violence on my feed all the time and see it start to creep into the Costco that I go to and the parking lots that I have grown up going to.”
Organizers announced that two petitions, which have garnered over 10,000 signatures, are urging the Austin City Council, Mayor Kirk Watson, and the city manager to implement an ordinance that would prohibit the Austin Police Department from assisting immigration agents with administrative warrants.
Recent ICE operations in central Texas, particularly in Hays County, have raised concerns among local officials due to a lack of communication and transparency regarding federal actions. Shelby Evans, a key organizer, highlighted the need for community involvement in local governance, stating, “This petition came about because we wanted to show what I think is on everyone’s minds.”
The petitions also call for Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis to retrain all members of the Austin Police Department to ensure that city staff do not inadvertently disclose the locations of individuals with ICE or DPS administrative warrants.
In a related incident, the Trump administration issued an apology over the deportation of a college student who was attempting to surprise her family in Austin for Thanksgiving, a case that reflects broader concerns about ICE practices in the region. Evans noted that over 70 statements from community members were submitted to the council, urging responsible use of tax dollars to avoid facilitating ICE actions.
Last week, the Austin Police Department announced plans to revise its policy regarding cooperation with federal immigration agents, as there are currently no clear guidelines on how officers should handle encounters with individuals with non-criminal warrants. The existing policy requires compliance with immigration detainer requests but does not address administrative warrants.
Following the protest, the petition was directly delivered to several city council members, including Mark Siegl and Ryan Alter. Jose Velasquez, another organizer, emphasized the importance of ongoing dialogue and collaboration with the community.
The protest is particularly poignant in light of recent events, including the death of Renee Nicole Good due to an ICE agent in Minnesota, which has sparked nationwide demonstrations. Locally, ICE operations conducted in Kyle and Buda last week occurred without prior notification to local law enforcement, further escalating tensions.
In Lockhart, the police department reported that ICE personnel were conducting operations near a busy intersection without any advance notice to local authorities, highlighting the growing concerns over federal practices in the area.
Evans concluded, “We have seen what’s going on in Minnesota, but we’ve also seen what has gone on in our local community. A number of people here are impacted by community members, and the fact that due process is not being respected… We can’t be silent about it, so we’ve gathered, and we’re going to say something.”
