(Michael Hogue)
Just days before launching his campaign for the Texas House of Representatives, Keller Mayor Armin Mizani made a move that’ll help inoculate him from opponents who might question his conservative bona fides.
His call for the city to formally partner with ICE under the 287(g) program drops a live-wire national issue into local politics. But, as he prepares for a race in a conservative district, that’s not a liability; it’s leverage.
Mizani, who had been running for the Texas Senate seat left open by Kelly Hancock, announced Wednesday that he’d dropped out of that race to pursue the Texas House District 98 seat following Rep. Giovanni Capriglione’s announcement that he will not seek reelection.
Supporters frame the partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement as a necessary stand for law and order. Critics call it a calculated appeal to voters in an economically stable community where no immigration crisis exists. But Mizani isn’t playing for consensus.
Opinion
Supporters applaud, critics warn of stunt
The proposal, which would bring Keller into ICE’s 287(g) jail enforcement program, triggered swift backlash online. Detractors accused Mizani of stoking culture war tension to boost his position for higher office. Yet the move also drew praise from constituents who support a harder line on immigration, exposing a broader dynamic shaping Texas politics: Local offices are now staging grounds for national messaging.
“Thank you for doing everything possible to work with the federal government and ICE to clean up our town, state and county from all the illegals let in our wonderful country by the previous administration,” wrote Keller resident Brad Crowell on the mayor’s Facebook post supporting the proposal.
Such support reflects the political climate Mizani is navigating, though he frames the proposal in more measured terms.
What Keller is actually doing
Mizani, a well-liked figure who’s served as mayor since 2020, emphasized that the effort targets individuals already arrested and detained.
“In practice, Keller has already been doing this over the last two years,” Mizani said by phone. “By formally opting into the 287(g) program, we now have the tools and training provided by the federal government. With what has happened throughout our nation with the protests against law enforcement, we felt compelled to take this bold step in support of public safety. When law enforcement agencies work together, we close the gaps that allow violent offenders, drug traffickers and repeat criminals to go unnoticed.”
The Keller City Council is scheduled to discuss the partnership at its next meeting.
Immigration is a litmus test
For many Republican voters, especially in suburban and exurban districts, a candidate’s stance on immigration signals deeper values related to strength, sovereignty and public safety. Whether Keller faces a significant influx of undocumented immigrants is beside the point. What matters is perception, fueled by national media, campaign messaging and a sense that local officials should be doing something about the border.
In that context, Mizani’s proposal makes political sense. It doesn’t need to be justified by data or local conditions. It works because it aligns him with a base of voters demanding visible action, regardless of whether their city is directly affected. As the University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll consistently shows, immigration remains a top priority for Republican voters statewide.
In a race where perception and positioning matter more than policy nuance, he’s staking out ground that Republican voters still reward. With this move, Mizani is showing he’s willing to engage on an issue known to animate his base. That’s wise given that any serious opponent for District 98 figures to be a similarly strong conservative for the seat Capriglione won with nearly 66% of the vote in 2024.
Immigration is a local issue
Spend any time talking to North Texans, regardless of political affiliation, and you’ll hear concerns about the economy, the Trump administration and the border, particularly the spike in illegal crossings under President Joe Biden. It’s easy to assume that communities more than 500 miles from the border are insulated. That assumption would be wrong. ICE arrested 84 individuals in a North Texas roundup earlier this year. What’s more, the state is believed to be home to an estimated 1.7 million undocumented immigrants — roughly one in every 20 Texans.
The move can improve the safety of the local community and aid Mizani’s long-term ambitions. Local residents too often make the mistake of deriding politicians for having ambition. Politics is a job, and a hard one at that. In fact, given the expense, the potential threats to self and family, and the online vitriol endured daily, it’s unlikely that the return on investment is justified unless a candidate has higher ambitions. Mizani is wise to look ahead.
Defining himself before anyone else can
Unlike the special election race for the senate, where there was no primary or partisan filter since all candidates appeared on the same ballot, Mizani will now face a Republican primary challenger for House District 98. That makes early definition crucial, and this move gives him a defining message that conservative voters won’t miss.
Mizani’s stated intent may be about safety and collaboration. But the politics also at play here aren’t subtle. They aren’t supposed to be.
A bold, high-visibility move on an issue central to both the GOP agenda and voter priorities statewide sends a clear signal: He isn’t hedging, and he’s not here to coast. He’s showing voters, and opponents, that when the knives come out in Austin, he won’t fold. He’ll lean in, hit back and define the conversation before someone else does.