HOUSTON – Policies guiding how deputies interact with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vary across Harris County, where each constable’s office operates independently under its own elected leadership.
KPRC 2 requested written policies and internal guidance from constable precincts across the county. While not all agencies publish detailed procedures online, several offices provided direct responses outlining how deputies are instructed to handle situations involving immigration concerns or potential ICE involvement.
Across the precincts that responded, a consistent theme emerged: deputies are generally not allowed to independently contact ICE, and decisions are routed through supervisors and, in some cases, legal counsel.
Below is a precinct-by-precinct breakdown:
Precinct 1
KPRC 2 has reached out to Precinct 1 and is awaiting a response.
Precinct 2
In a statement provided to KPRC 2, Precinct 2 officials said deputies follow both departmental policies and applicable county guidance when directed by the Harris County Attorney’s Office.
When immigration-related questions arise:
Deputies must contact a supervisor at the rank of lieutenant or higher
Deputies are required to wait for guidance before taking further action
Legal questions are referred to the County Attorney or District Attorney
This same process applies to any request to assist ICE. Officials noted they have not yet encountered a situation requiring action under this guidance.
Precinct 3
KPRC 2 has reached out to Precinct 3 and is awaiting a response.
Precinct 4
KPRC 2 has reached out to Precinct 4 and is awaiting a response.
Precinct 5
KPRC 2 has reached out to Precinct 5 and is awaiting a response.
Precinct 6
KPRC 2 has reached out to Precinct 6 and is awaiting a response.
Precinct 7
KPRC 2 has reached out to Precinct 7 and is awaiting a response.
Precinct 8
According to information provided by Precinct 8, the office has a written directive outlining how deputies must handle potential immigration-related situations.
Under that guidance:
Deputies are prohibited from directly contacting ICE during calls for service, traffic stops, or field encounters
Any concerns about immigration status must be reported to an on-duty supervisor
Only a supervisor can determine whether contacting ICE is appropriate
If approved, dispatch, not the deputy, contacts ICE to ensure proper documentation
The directive was issued in August 2025 at the request of Constable Phil Sandlin, according to the precinct. Officials say the process mirrors how deputies confirm arrest warrants with outside agencies and is designed to ensure proper verification and accountability.
What’s consistent across agencies
While policies differ by precinct, the responses highlight several shared practices:
Deputies do not independently initiate ICE contact
Situations involving immigration concerns are elevated to supervisors
Legal guidance may be sought before action is taken
Any contact with federal authorities is documented through official channels
Because each constable is independently elected, there is no single countywide policy governing how deputies interact with ICE in the field.
But across the precincts that have responded so far, the approach is similar: deputies are expected to defer decisions, follow a chain of command, and ensure any interaction with federal immigration authorities is handled within established legal and procedural boundaries.
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