Click here to read the Houston Chronicle’s opinion piece criticizing Mayor Whitmire’s policy regarding ICE and his lack of empathy for Emmanuel Garcia, an autistic teen who has been separated from his mother since he was incarcerated by the Office of Refugee Resettlement in early October.
[Mayor] Whitmire obviously didn’t think it was his job to advocate for Emmanuel’s needs. He didn’t put any effort into discussing where things went wrong for Emmanuel, and how the city could have done better. He offered no recognition of the very tragedy he had just described the day before, no follow-up to the promise of accountability and transparency.
Instead the mayor profusely thanked the police chief for his work and began wrapping up for recess.
Suddenly, a voice came from the chamber: “Why do you lie?”
It was Espinosa, the activist. “Why do you lie?” he repeated, louder this time, directing his words at Whitmire and Diaz.
HPD officers took him by the arms and ushered him out. But even from the hallway, his voice rang out. The unanswered question hung in the air.
Click here to continue reading.
November 18, 2025
FIEL Houston 