San Antonio City Council Meeting on Immigration Protection Resolution and Consent Calendar, February 12, 2026
San Antonio City Council Meeting on Immigration Protection Resolution and Consent Calendar, February 12, 2026
The San Antonio City Council met on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 9:02 AM to consider a consent calendar of affordable housing resolutions and a major discussion on a resolution to evaluate strategies for protecting all persons in San Antonio, particularly in response to federal immigration enforcement and a newly acquired ICE detention facility in the city. The meeting included public testimony from dozens of community members, a staff presentation on legal and operational options, and a council vote on the resolution, followed by an executive session from 11:11 AM to 12:36 PM.
Consent Calendar
- The council unanimously approved the consent calendar (items 3-31) without objection. This included resolutions for affordable housing projects (items 12-21) totaling 805 units across districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and others. Council members highlighted projects serving seniors, workforce families, and two projects with on-site pre-K.
- Public commenter Jack Finger criticized the consent calendar, arguing that taxpayer-funded housing for individuals using other people's money to pay rent is unsustainable and would deplete the budget for other needs.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Over 30 community members spoke on agenda item 4, the immigration protection resolution. The overwhelming majority expressed fear, anger, and opposition to the new ICE detention facility (described as a "concentration camp" by many) located in District 2 near schools and parks. Speakers demanded the council use all legal means to block or delay the facility, including environmental reviews, zoning enforcement, withholding utilities, and refusing permits. Many cited human rights violations, medical neglect, detention of children, and examples of U.S. citizens being detained. Several speakers drew parallels to Nazi Germany, Jim Crow, and the civil rights movement, urging the council to take courageous action.
- A smaller number of speakers supported federal immigration enforcement, arguing that obstructing ICE puts the city at risk of losing federal funding and that the detention center is necessary for public safety. They cited cases of violent crimes committed by undocumented individuals.
- One speaker (Cheryl González) challenged council member White's demeanor, alleging he smiled during a disabled speaker's testimony. Council member White later denied any lack of concern for city residents.
Discussion Items
- Agenda Item 4 – Resolution on Evaluation of Strategies to Protect All Persons in San Antonio: City Attorney Liz Provencio presented a follow-up from the January 22 special session, categorizing 26 requested actions into four groups:
- Already done or underway – legal resource website, staff training on ICE encounters (started early 2025), immigrant economic impact report (published December 2025), and a list of consular and health services.
- Proposed – collecting ICE activity data (limited to regional data), creating a civil rights violation reporting form, evaluating a justice fund for legal representation, and assessing detention facility land-use impacts.
- Not recommended due to legal risks – providing resources based on legal status (per SB4), city staff conducting "know your rights" training (must be done by third parties), and policies on masks.
- Needing further evaluation – detention facility land-use regulations, procurement policies, public signage, staff training scope, use of city resources, and federal agenda priorities.
- Council members debated the scope of permissible action. District 2 council member Maki Rodríguez emphasized that the detention facility is in her district and that the city must examine every stone to protect residents. She requested information on federal property notification rules, utility provision, and impact assessments on emergency services, traffic, and sanitation.
- Council member Villagrán asked about coordination with other Texas cities (e.g., Dilley, El Paso) and Minneapolis. He stressed the need to protect constitutional rights and track civil rights violations.
- Council member Galván expressed alarm at the possibility of ICE entering homes without warrants and questioned the role of police. She supported evaluating the justice fund and public signage.
- Council member Alderete Gavito thanked colleagues for the resolution and noted the importance of tracking violations. She asked about health department coordination for potential outbreaks at the facility and requested details on police involvement (chief confirmed no assistance requested so far).
- Council member Munguía highlighted that high-risk legal actions might still be necessary to prevent deaths in custody. He pushed for online posting of ICE activity data and regular updates in city manager reports, bilingually.
- Council member Castillo raised concerns about a reported federal entry into a home without a warrant. She emphasized the importance of documenting all concerns, even if no immediate action can be taken.
- Council member White opposed efforts to obstruct federal enforcement, stating that the city must comply with federal and state law and that blocking ICE puts federal funding at risk. He cited $30 million in federal debt owed to the city (including $13 million from the former migrant center) and argued the city cannot act as a federal court.
- Council member Kore expressed pride in the city's previous compassionate response to migrants and acknowledged the current political climate. She supported the resolution and called for aggressive actions such as environmental studies, cutting utilities, and installing billboards with "know your rights" information. She emphasized the importance of the November elections to change federal policy.
- Council member Fiersting (if identified) reiterated the need to avoid unconstitutional actions.
Key Outcomes
- The council voted to approve Agenda Item 4 (the resolution on evaluation of strategies). The motion passed (specific vote tally not available from the transcript).
- Council directed the city manager to provide an update on the evaluation of specified actions at the next regular meeting on March 5, 2026, and to include updates in the city manager's report at regular intervals thereafter (bi-weekly or as substantial progress occurs).
- The council held an executive session from 11:11 AM to 12:36 PM to discuss economic development (Section 571.071) and legal matters (Section 551.071). No action was taken during the closed session.
- The meeting was briefly recessed for 10 minutes before proceeding to the city manager's report.
Note: The transcript is in Spanish; the summary is based on a translation. No agenda or minutes were available to cross-reference.
Meeting Transcript
Buenos días, las horas son nueve y dos de la mañana, viernes febrero 12. La Junta de la Ciudad del Consejo de la Ciudad llama a orden, señora Secretario, por favor, pase lista. Concejal Kore. Concejal Maki Rodríguez, presente, concejal Villagrán aquí, concejal Munguía presente, concejal Castillo, presente, concejal Galván, concejal Alderete Gavito, concejal Mesa González, presente, concejal Spears, presente, concejal White. Aquí, alcalde Jones. Señora, tenemos quórum. Gracias. Concejal Kore. No está aquí, sin embargo, su invocador. Lo veo aquí. Por favor, pase y diga sus palabras. Buenos días, concejales. Con la reverencia y mi presencia completa empezamos esta reunión. La práctica de MATAC, la palabra con palabras de amabilidad. Este momento es precioso y las condiciones. Podemos hacer una pausa para poner la intención. Que establezcamos nuestras mentes en buena voluntad, claridad y no daño. Lo que surja aquí, que sea guiado por la sabiduría en vez de impulso y con compasión en vez de interés personal. Que se extienda a todos los que se sientan en esta cámara y todos los que tomen decisiones. Vean lo que se vea y lo que no se vea presente y ausente, cerca y lejos. Que todos los seres estén salvos, libres de miedo y hostilidad, que vivan con dignidad y en paz. Al tomar la responsabilidad ante nosotros, que recordemos la verdad de independencia verdadera, que no existimos en aislamiento y que nada se divide. Ninguna vida se divide de la otra. Esto lo que pasa da forma a las personas y a las generaciones por venir. Que se hable con el corazón, que nuestras mentes estén libres de ignorancia y de autovoluntad. Que la guía de lo que genuinamente es guiado genuinamente aliviar el sufrimiento. En momentos de desacuerdo, que practiquemos la paciencia y los esfuerzos en momentos de dificultad, que recordemos nuestra propuesta, nuestro propósito compartido para proteger el bienestar de la comunidad completa. A lo mejor tenemos una opinión diferente, pero tenemos que entender que cuando la humildad está presente, que la compasión guíe nuestra preocupación para los vulnerados, los vulnerables y los débiles, que la guía considere las consideraciones, las consecuencias malas, que el código de conducta nos lleve a actuar de una manera justa y en armonía, que nuestro cuidado, cuidado no tenga límites sin exclusión, sin resentimiento y sin exclusión, que no cultivemos mentes sin tener odio en ellas, que nuestras aspiraciones y que el trabajo que tomamos hoy contribuya a la paz más que al conflicto, a curar en vez de a dañar en unión y no en separación, que haya causa de bienestar en la ciudad y en el futuro cercano. Que todos estén contentos, felices y con una mente sana. Gracias. Gracias por esa petición, por favor, únanse conmigo al juramento a la bandera. Punto tres es la aprobación de los minutos de la Junta del Consejo de Enero 28 y 29. Hay una corrección a los minutos de ese día. Al que no escuchar ninguno, hay una moción para aprobar la moción de las minuta. Hago la moción y está segundada para aprobar los minutos. Por favor, voten. Muy bien, la moción pasa. Al no hay ningún punto de privilegio personal, vamos a seguir a la agenda de consensual. Hay alguna objeción para tomar la agenda consensual. Al no escuchar ninguno del punto 31, están en la agenda consensual, se considerará como un grupo y no ningún punto hay algún punto que los concejales quieren sacar de la agenda consensual para aprobar individualmente. Concejal White. Nada. Muy bien, gracias. Tenemos un miembro del comité que está apuntado para hablar sobre la agenda consensual. Jack Finger tienes, tiene usted tres minutos. Alcalde Jones, miembros del consejo. Mi nombre es Jack Finger. Quiero traer su llamar su atención a esta parte de la agenda. En la agenda consensual, que posiblemente es como el trineo de Santa Claus, los números del 12 al 21. Solamente quiero admitir que esto es un jackpot para al considerar la vivienda asequible.
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