Lucio Vasquez / Houston Public Media
During a press conference on Nov. 20, 2023, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez spoke about the arrest of Ronald Lewis, a Houston attorney who allegedly smuggling drug-laced papers into the Harris County Jail.
As an ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran quickly escalated over the weekend, Harris County’s top law enforcement officer is encouraging residents to remain vigilant.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said people should stay safe in light of heightened threat concerns, which were addressed in a bulletin from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s National Terrorism Advisory System.
Following U.S. strikes on Iran Saturday night, officials say the ongoing conflict has caused an elevated risk of threats. But the sheriff’s office was not immediately aware of any credible threats since the conflict surged on June 13 when Israel conducted military strikes on Iran.
“The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is actively coordinating with public safety partners at all levels of government to identify, assess and swiftly respond to potential threats against our region,” Gonzalez said in a statement Monday.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Sunday said that low-level cyber attacks against United States networks by pro-Iranian “hacktivists” are likely, “and cyber actors affiliated with the Iranian government may conduct attacks against US networks.”
A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office declined to say if the office has recently seen an increase in reports of antisemitism or Islamophobia in Harris County. The sheriff’s office declined to detail how it has prepared for potential threats amid the ongoing international conflict.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Houston declined to comment on the potential for increased threats during the conflict. The Houston Police Department is not aware of any specific threats to the area, Shay Awosiyan, a spokesperson said.
“When it comes to people being worried and concerned, we understand that,” Awosiyan said. “HPD routinely works with our faith-based institutions to ensure the safety of their members.”
Potential public safety threats cited by Homeland Security include domestic violent extremism and retaliatory violence in the U.S.
Heightened security across U.S.
The ongoing conflict prompted law enforcement agencies in other major U.S. cities to increase patrols near religious sites.
In Washington D.C., the Metropolitan Police Department on Saturday said it maintained an increased presence at religious institutions across the city. The conflict prompted the police department to coordinate with local and federal law enforcement partners to share information and monitor intelligence.
The New York Police Department deployed additional resources to religious, cultural and diplomatic sites across the city over the weekend out of an abundance of caution. Karen Bass, the mayor of Los Angeles, said the city’s police department is stepping up patrols near places of worship, community gathering space and other sensitive sites.
Houston has long maintained a position as one of the most diverse cities in the country — and has a population on par with other major U.S. metropolitan areas that have increased law enforcement presence as the conflict continues.
Houston has been ranked among other U.S. cities with the highest religious, cultural and socioeconomic diversity. As of 2019, nearly one in four Houston residents were born outside of the U.S., according to the Greater Houston Partnership.
The Houston Police Department in 2023 increased security presence around religious communities after the Palestinian militant organization Hamas conducted attacks on Israel, and Israel responded with airstrike attacks days later.
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More than 1,200 were killed in the early weeks of the conflict and thousands were reported injured, prompting pro-Palestinian rallies across the United States and Houston.
Reporting threats
Israel and Iran traded missile attacks, and the U.S. struck Iranian nuclear facilities Saturday, several days into the conflict. Israel and Iran appeared to enter a cease-fire on Monday, hours after Iran fired missiles at a U.S. base in Qatar.
Though Iran has refused to give up its nuclear program, the Associated Press reported that the shaky cease-fire appears to be holding. The status of the cease-fire agreement however was unclear Tuesday as Israel warned its citizens to take shelter after detecting missile launches from Iran.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging residents to stay informed by following updates from local and federal sources. Residents should report threats and suspicious activity by contacting the sheriff’s office at 713-221-6000.
“We’re fortunate that Houston is the most diverse city in America,” Awosiyan said. “The city takes pride in our ability to support each other as Houstonians.”
Houston Public Media’s Adam Zuvanich contributed to this report.