1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I am writing to express deep outrage and heartbreak over the handling of the case involving Emmanuel Gonzales, an autistic teenager who was reported to ICE instead of being issued an Amber Alert. This failure represents not only a gross miscarriage of justice but a devastating breach of community trust. Emmanuel should have been treated as a child in need of protection, not as an immigration case. Dallas has shown that refusing to cooperate with ICE by turning down $25 million in federal incentives can be a moral stance that prioritizes human rights. Houston, instead, chose to hand an autistic teenager over to federal custody, where he was reportedly operated on without his mother’s consent or presence. The decision by the officers involved to involve ICE instead of following proper Amber Alert protocol is indefensible. Those responsible must be held accountable. Anything less communicates to Houston’s Hispanic and immigrant communities that they cannot trust local law enforcement to protect their children. This loss of trust will not only harm community relationships but will increase fear, isolation, and ultimately, crime rates. Houston deserves leadership that stands with its people, not against them. We need a mayor who values integrity, compassion, and justice over political appeasement. Right now, this administration is failing that standard. I urge your office to 1 Publicly explain why Emmanuel was reported to ICE instead of being treated as a missing child. 2 Take disciplinary action against any officer or department responsible. 3 Implement safeguards to ensure that no other child is ever subjected to such mistreatment again. This tragedy is unacceptable. The people of Houston are watching, and we expect real accountability.