Public Outcry Grows as San Antonio's City Council Reviews Legal Obligations to Work With ICE: 'It Creates Chaos'

The San Antonio City Council faced hours of heated public testimony Thursday as residents, advocates and local officials debated the city's legal obligations to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, amid ongoing federal enforcement activity in the region.

The special meeting drew long lines to enter council chambers and repeated disruptions that led Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones to call multiple recesses.

Speakers overwhelmingly criticized ICE tactics and urged the city to limit cooperation where possible, even as officials emphasized that Texas law constrains local policy. Former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg told council the enforcement climate "creates chaos," adding: "It is un-American. It is undemocratic, and it is wrong," as reported by local news site MySA.

City leaders said the session was intended to provide transparency on what local police can and cannot do under Texas Senate Bill 4, the 2017 law commonly described as banning "sanctuary city" policies. San Antonio is the only Texas city to have been sued by the state over SB 4, city officials said, a point that prompted audible crowd reaction.

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said the department must comply with state law when requested but does not enforce federal immigration law. "SAPD is not enforcing immigration laws, we cannot do that by law," McManus said, according to the San Antonio Report, adding that officers are instructed they cannot arrest someone solely on the basis of an administrative immigration warrant and should instead contact ICE.

City staff presented data meant to show how frequently immigration-related issues surface in day-to-day policing. In 2025, SAPD handled 111 ICE detainers out of more than 51,000 arrests, KSAT reported. The San Antonio Report also cited city figures showing that, out of roughly 2.1 million calls received in 2025, only 258 police reports referenced the word "immigration," with many involving scams, document theft, or immigration issues raised as a secondary factor.

The meeting unfolded as residents described fear and uncertainty in communities that have seen sustained federal activity for more than a year, with San Antonio's immigration court and nearby detention and processing facilities making the city a frequent focal point.

No votes were scheduled, but council members asked staff to explore options ranging from public reporting of ICE requests to potential legal action in specific circumstances.