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Travis County court adopts resolution affirming due process, transparency for immigrants in custody
Summary
The Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a resolution calling for due process and transparency in the treatment, detention and transfer of immigrants within county jurisdiction, citing constitutional protections and urging agencies to notify the public promptly of detentions and transfers.
The Travis County Commissioners Court on June 17 unanimously approved a resolution affirming that constitutional protections — including due process and habeas corpus — apply to all people within the county and calling for transparency when any agency detains or transfers an individual.
Commissioner Gomez presented the resolution and moved approval; Commissioner Shea seconded the motion. The court voted unanimously in favor.
The resolution text cites the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, refers specifically to the Fourteenth Amendment's protections, and notes the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Plyler v. Doe (1982) as precedent extending certain educational protections irrespective of immigration status. It calls for agencies and personnel involved in detention or transfer to wear body cameras, display clear identification and to provide prompt public notification that includes who was taken, the legal authority for the action, the individual's destination and the justification for the action.
Community speakers urged the court to act. Alicia Perez Hodge, district director for League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) District 7 and co‑founder of ABLA and the Austin Latino Coalition, said the resolution counters "lies" that immigrants commit crimes at higher rates and urged support. Paul Saldana, co‑founder of ABLA and a longtime Travis County resident, cited Migration Policy Institute estimates of the local immigrant population and argued economic and civic contributions of immigrants. Psychologist Manuel Zamarripa told the court that the resolution is important for mental‑health and community well‑being, arguing that "social justice and liberty are mental health issues as well."
A public caller, Zenobia Joseph, raised a separate concern about compliance with a U.S. Department of Transportation letter dated April 24, 2025, that she said prohibits including DEI goals in federal programs and referenced Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; she urged the court to ensure local transit service and accessibility for underserved routes.
The court’s resolution also "encourages other counties and municipalities across the state of Texas to adopt similar commitments to transparency, justice, and the protection of basic human rights," and the court recorded no amendments to the document when it passed.
Ending: The resolution passed unanimously; the court took no additional related enforcement actions at the session but the measure is a formal county policy statement urging compliance and transparency by agencies operating in Travis County.
