AUSTIN, Texas — Austin City Council members are pushing for changes to how federal law enforcement operates in the city, with a proposed five-point plan that largely focuses on immigration enforcement and interactions during protests.
Five council members, including District 2 Councilwoman Vanessa Fuentes, sent a memo to City Manager T.C. Broadnax calling for reforms related to federal agents operating in Austin. Fuentes said the proposal is a response to what the city is seeing locally and nationally.
“It was important that we respond to what we are seeing happening in our community and all across the United States when it comes to having federal agents, or ICE agents operating in cities,” Fuentes said.
The plan includes adding de-escalation protocols for protests and ensuring the Austin Police Department is ready to respond to “warrantless entry onto private property.” It also calls for APD to report “any actions of violence,” property damage, or allegations of criminal conduct by a federal official. The proposal would prohibit federal officials from wearing a face covering in the city while enforcing the law and would add more resources to help Austinites know their rights.
Community organizers said they support the proposed changes. Chas Moore, organizing director for the Austin Justice Coalition, criticized the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the city, saying, “But ICE has to go, especially here in Austin. We’re not trying to deal with any of that.”
RELATED: Austin council members propose plan to safeguard civil rights amid ICE actions
Moore said the proposal could help protect residents, including those exercising their First Amendment rights.
“I’m glad to see city council wants to do something to stand up to this federal regime, if you will, to make sure that Austinites and people in our city that want to practice their First Amendment can be protected,” he said.
The proposal comes as a partial federal government shutdown continues over an immigration enforcement funding bill. Congress has failed to pass the bill, and Republican officials, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have blamed Democrats for the shutdown while arguing immigration enforcement is necessary for public safety. Johnson referenced what he described as a recent incident in Austin, saying, “There was an alleged attack a terror attack in Austin, as you know, two weekends ago…and now they’ve jeopardized the security of every American citizen to keep criminal illegal aliens in our country.”
Broadnax has a month to respond to the City Council with answers on how the city could implement the proposal.