Congressional Republicans have launched an investigation into Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza over policies they say shield illegal aliens from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
In a letter to Garza’s office, Republican U.S. Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio, Tom McClintock of California, and Chip Roy of Texas questioned the district attorney over what they described as a refusal to cooperate with federal immigration law.
“Under your office’s pro-crime, pro-illegal immigration policies, illegal alien criminals are allowed to freely operate, terrorize local communities, and reoffend without consequences,” the letter states. “Like other sanctuary jurisdictions we have examined, the shielding of criminal aliens from immigration enforcement in Travis County undermines public safety and thwarts the efficient enforcement of federal law.”
In 2021, Garza’s campaign platform stated that he was committed to protecting immigrant communities. As part of that effort, he said his office “will create an immigration task force composed of directly impacted people and policy experts to help Travis County move forward in making this a place anyone can call home.”
Last year, an investigation by ABC affiliate KVUE found that Garza’s office missed the indictment deadlines in 263 cases in 2024, allowing more than 100 violent criminal defendants to be released on bond rather than remain jailed pending prosecution.
Under the Texas’ Code of Criminal Procedure, prosecutors have 90 days to secure an indictment against a jailed defendant. If that deadline is not met, the defendant may be released on a bond they can afford.
In one case highlighted, court records showed that a Mexican national, Mario Mata, told investigators he sexually assaulted a girl numerous times when she was about 6 or 7 years old. Mata was arrested and booked into jail. However, Garza’s office failed to file an indictment until the 91st day of his incarceration, allowing him to be released on bond.
Republican lawmakers are now requesting that Garza’s office provide documents and communications related to its interactions with ICE, policies governing the prosecution of non-U.S. citizens, and immigration-related practices, including communications with immigration attorneys, defense attorneys, and community advocates.
Garza’s office has until July 7, 2026, to respond to the lawmakers’ requests.
