(HOUSTON, TX) — Harris County Democrats and community leaders announced on February 6, 2026, that they are filing a lawsuit seeking an injunction to halt U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the Greater Houston area, citing racial profiling, unlawful detentions, and violence.
Organizers framed the court action as an effort to stop what they described as a pattern of enforcement tactics affecting immigrant communities across Houston and surrounding areas, though the allegations have not been adjudicated in court.
If a judge grants an injunction, it can function as a court order that temporarily or permanently stops specific conduct while a lawsuit proceeds.
In practice, the plaintiffs are asking the court to block ICE operations in the region as the case moves forward, rather than waiting for a final ruling after months of litigation.
Democrats held the announcement and press availability at 11:00 a.m. CT at the Harris County Democratic Party Headquarters in Houston.
The gathering drew local party figures and community leaders who tied the legal effort to daily fears they said residents face.
Congressman Al Green (D-TX) used the event to condemn ICE practices under Secretary Kristi Noem and pledged to support the lawsuit in court.
“I intend to file an amicus brief in support of this lawsuit. I stand with the Latino community in firm opposition to the inhumane and unconstitutional actions carried out by DHS/ICE agents under the leadership of Secretary Kristi Noem,” Green said.
Green said the operations fuel “racial profiling, unlawful detention, and violence against American citizens and immigrant communities, particularly in Houston, home to one of the largest Latino populations in the nation,” and he called for Noem’s accountability through resignation, removal, or impeachment.
An amicus brief, short for “friend of the court,” allows an individual lawmaker or outside party to submit arguments meant to help a judge evaluate the issues, without becoming the main party bringing the lawsuit.
Green said he planned to use that vehicle to back the injunction effort.
Harris County Democrats said they are leading the injunction filing and argued that ICE engages in racial profiling across the Houston area.
Speakers presented the lawsuit as a direct challenge aimed at stopping enforcement operations they say have spread fear well beyond targeted arrests.
The organizers did not name any specific plaintiffs beyond Harris County Democrats and community leaders at the press conference.
Court filing details such as the exact federal district, assigned judge, or docket number were not available as of the event, leaving basic case-tracking information unresolved.
Those details matter because they determine where the case will be heard and how quickly it can move.
A court and docket number allow the public to verify filings, identify scheduled hearings, and review any orders that could define what ICE can and cannot do while the case is pending.
Speakers cast the lawsuit as urgent in a region they described as having a major ICE presence.
They also pointed to Houston’s standing as home to the nation’s second-largest immigrant community, presenting the city as a focal point for enforcement actions and their ripple effects.
Advocates at the event said ICE’s presence can discourage undocumented residents from appearing in court, a claim they tied to wider concerns about due process and basic access to legal systems.
They said the fear of encountering ICE can shape decisions about whether to contest civil cases, show up for hearings, or seek services that require identification.
Organizers linked that dynamic to housing instability, arguing that when people avoid court they risk losing cases by default, including evictions.
They presented that concern as one reason the injunction request matters beyond immigration enforcement itself, because court avoidance can have fast-moving consequences for families.
Local Democrats also cited broader community concerns raised in precinct discussions, including eviction pressures in Harris County Precinct 5.
Speakers connected those concerns to calls for courts to be treated as safe spaces for immigrants, arguing that people should be able to appear for hearings without fear of enforcement encounters.
Supporters of the lawsuit used those points to bolster the case for an injunction, portraying the requested court order as a means to reduce fear around courthouses and protect participation in legal proceedings.
They did not present a timeline for when a judge might consider the request.
The announcement in Houston also fit into a broader political message that local Democrats described as opposition to Trump administration immigration enforcement.
Organizers referenced threats to block Homeland Security funding unless ICE implements changes such as unmasking agents, obtaining judicial warrants, and cooperating with local authorities.
Funding threats of that kind typically require legislative action through the appropriations process, and speakers presented the proposals as conditions they want pursued rather than changes already in place.
The press conference focused on the lawsuit as the immediate mechanism they are using to try to halt ICE operations in Greater Houston.
Video of the press conference remained available through a YouTube livestream, allowing the public to view remarks and footage from the event.
Organizers did not present the livestream as a substitute for court records, and any injunction or other ruling would ultimately be reflected in official filings and orders.
Green’s planned amicus brief role, Noem’s mention as the DHS secretary tied to the enforcement criticism, and the Harris County Democratic Party’s role as host and organizer underscored how closely the lawsuit effort is tied to local Democratic politics in Houston as well as to federal immigration enforcement.
Harris County Democrats Sue to Halt ICE Operations in Houston
Harris County Democrats and local leaders are suing to stop ICE operations in Houston, alleging systemic racial profiling and unlawful detentions. The lawsuit seeks an immediate injunction to halt enforcement while the case proceeds. Supported by Congressman Al Green, the effort highlights community fears that ICE’s presence at courthouses discourages legal participation and leads to civil consequences like evictions in one of the nation’s largest immigrant hubs.
