Harris County Democrats are still salty about Houston Mayor John Whitmire attending a fundraiser for Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, but they also chided the elected leader last week for what they perceived as him supporting the arrests of undocumented residents.
Whitmire was the featured speaker Thursday night at the Harris County Tejano Democrats’ monthly meeting. Before a crowd at the Leonel Castillo Community Center, Whitmire said he didn’t raise funds for Crenshaw and Houston officers are cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, not pursuing arrests and deportation.
The mayor’s position is nonpartisan but Whitmire served a combined 50 years in the Texas House and Senate as a Democratic lawmaker before winning the Houston mayoral election in 2023. He was endorsed by the Tejano Democrats in his mayoral bid.
Following the Crenshaw fundraiser in April, 30 Democrat precinct chairs signed a formal admonishment condemning Whitmire’s political behavior, finding that “his conduct undermines the values and mission of the Democratic Party.”
The document calls for the party to deny endorsements in future elections. Harris County Democratic Party Chair Mike Doyle said last month the admonishment will be voted on by all 591 precinct chairs.
Cameron “Coach Cam” Campbell, a Democrat Party precinct chair, said Whitmire has publicly claimed that the Houston Police Department does not cooperate with ICE but records show that since January, HPD officers have contacted ICE 22 times, including calling the immigration agency on a woman who flagged down an officer to report a car crash.
“If you claim HPD is just following protocol, are you admitting that under your leadership, the Houston Police Department is still detaining and funneling immigrants to ICE, including those seeking help?” Campbell said. “Why haven’t you issued a directive to stop it?”
Whitmire said HPD upholds state and city laws and if a person has a warrant out for their arrest, the agency holding the warrant is notified.
“Most people have applauded our position of protecting our community,” the mayor said.
Other attendees at the meeting questioned Whitmire’s cooperation with ICE and the mayor repeated that he’s not having people deported.
“I’ve said I’m cooperating with them, not working with them,” he said. “We’re not immigration. We’re not ICE. I’m sorry about what our country is going through.
“I’m not a Congressional official,” he added. “The policy is being set in Washington. I’m a leader by collaboration. I work with our local congressional delegates. Regardless of your immigration status, we treat you like humans. Regardless of your immigration status, if you are a victim of domestic violence, reach out for help. I understand that you’re unhappy and you want to find someone to point a finger at, but it’s not me. I am so close to the immigrant community.”
Update:5 p.m. May 12, 2025: Following publication of this story, Mayor Whitmire’s Press Office issued the following statements:
“Mayor Whitmire has consistently stated that the City of Houston is not ICE or focused on immigration enforcement but will hold all violent offenders accountable regardless of their immigration status. HPD enforces state laws and will hold violators of state law, ALL violent offenders, accountable regardless of immigration status.
“This first time request to COH by ICE does not fall under the common exceptions to disclosure in the TPIA. There are certain special rights of access that exist. Section 730.007 of the Texas Transportation Code permits disclosure of such information if for use by a government agency, including any court or law-enforcement agency, for the purpose of carrying out its functions.”
Kay Shepard said she’s known Whitmire since she was a child and was hurt that he didn’t return her messages when she reached out to ask about the Crenshaw fundraiser and why he’s supporting “Republicans who are doing us dirty.”
“Senator, I’ve known you all my life,” she said. “I have love for you, but I am very disappointed. I see you aligning yourself, raising money for Republicans. I know you so well that it hurts my heart. I texted you and asked what’s going on. You did not respond.”
Whitmire repeated that he wasn’t raising funds but fostering a relationship with a powerful subcommittee chair. Just a month prior, he was at the same location at an event for Democratic Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones, he said.
“Nothing has changed in my values and who I am,” he said. “I have to work with people to get things done. It has nothing to do with agreeing with him on much of [Crenshaw’s] philosophy. It has to do with looking out for Houstonians. We’re underfunded, our infrastructure is broken, but more important is our water supply. It’s very fragile.”
Shepard said the mayor should have talked to his constituents and said, “I know this is going to look bad, but this is why I’ve got to do it.”
“I was sad, I was sick, I was devastated,” she said.
Before taking questions at Thursday’s gathering, Whitmire spoke for about 30 minutes on his history as a public official and the numerous challenges he’s faced as mayor. He drew applause when talking about getting homeless people off the streets and addressing a mental health crisis.
“I got known nationally for speaking out about how you lock up people you’re afraid of, not those you’re mad at,” he said. “Way too many people are incarcerated strictly because of their mental health condition. If we’d invested early in mental health, it would reduce the crime rate.”
A survey released in April by the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs showed that 59 percent of Houstonians think the city is headed in the wrong direction. However, 74 percent of Houstonians were concerned about the direction of the United States government and more than half of respondents were dissatisfied with Houston’s police protection. About 59 percent of those surveyed supported Mayor Whitmire.
“I understand the anxiety in our country and our community,” Whitmire said, adding that he’s built a diverse staff at City Hall and employee morale is at an all-time high. “I will use my relationships with each of you to make our city better.”
Campbell said after the meeting he wasn’t impressed.
“Citizens of Houston, the Democrats in Harris County, are awake,” he said.
