Under Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza, the homicide rate in Austin has nearly doubled compared with the years before he took office.
Garza first took office in 2021 and was re-elected in 2024 for a second term beginning in 2025.
Before Garza entered office, Austin averaged 3.5 homicides per 100,000 residents. From 2020 through 2025, that average increased to 7.3 homicides per 100,000 residents.
By comparison, homicide rates declined in several other major cities during the same period, falling 8% in Houston, 12% in San Antonio, 21% in Fort Worth, 22% in Dallas, and 50% in Arlington.
Despite the downward trend in those major cities, a study conducted by the nonpartisan Council on Criminal Justice found Austin’s homicide rate was 74% higher in 2025 than it was in 2019.
According to Austin police data, the city recorded 662 drug offense cases, 157 aggravated assault cases and 60 sexual assault cases in June 2026 alone.
Among the cities examined in the Council on Criminal Justice report, Austin recorded the largest increase in homicides since 2019. The only other cities with homicide rates above their 2019 levels were Minneapolis, Norfolk, Virginia, and Pittsburgh.
The findings have drawn renewed criticism of Garza, who is currently under investigation by the U.S. House Judiciary Committee over his office’s policies regarding illegal immigrants charged with crimes, and Travis County’s cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
In a letter sent to Garza by Republican U.S. Reps. Chip Roy of Texas, Jim Jordan of Ohio, and Tom McClintock of California, they allege that the district attorney’s office has undermined the rule of law through participation in the “Protect Immigrant Communities” initiative.
According to the lawmakers, the initiative involved forming an immigration task force and considering immigration consequences when making criminal charging decisions. Garza’s policies contributed to the release of five illegal immigrants charged with crimes in 2024.
Garza has also faced a citizen-filed petition seeking his removal from office. The petition alleges he unfairly prosecuted police officers and refused to enforce state laws prohibiting certain drug possession offenses and abortions.
The Council on Criminal Justice cautioned that its findings are not representative of every large American city or the nation as a whole.
“The city sample used for this report is not necessarily representative of every large American city or the nation as a whole. Finally, it is also important to recognize that many offenses are not reported to law enforcement, so law enforcement data understate the total volume of crime,” the report states.
The report concludes that communities should continue investing in evidence-based crime reduction strategies.
“As we continue to gain deeper understanding of the dynamics behind the nation’s crime trends, communities should invest in strategies that are supported by rigorous research and producing tangible results on the ground. For families who have lost loved ones to violence, even the continuing progress of 2026 is of little comfort. Keeping that in mind will help the United States stay on track toward a future of even greater public safety,”
