Texas mayor instructs police to limit co-operation with ICE

The move by John Whitmire, a Democrat, comes on the heels of stunning victories by the party in Texas during this week's midterm elections. It breaks with policy set by Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who lost his re-election bid. "I do this to begin a healing process," Whitmire said on Friday, and to "reduce fear and anxiety across our community".

He added: "I also do this knowing that elections matter." There has been months of public outcry in Houston after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer fatally shot a man who was driving to work. "For example, if our police officers pull someone over for a minor traffic infraction and they write a citation, that person receives a citation and goes about their day," Diaz said. Whitmire said on Friday that he had directed the Houston Police Department to make the changes through an executive order.

He also called on Congress to change federal immigration rules, saying "ICE needs better training. They need body cameras.