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Houston changes ordinance limiting cooperation with ICE after pressure from governor
The revised plan keeps Fourth Amendment limits on detentions and adds quarterly reporting as city leaders seek to restore about $110 million in state funding.
- On Wednesday, the Houston City Council voted 13-4 to amend a police ordinance governing cooperation with federal immigration authorities, aiming to restore $110 million in state public safety funding frozen by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
- Abbott froze the $110 million in grants last week after the council previously restricted Houston Police Department officers from detaining individuals solely for ICE administrative warrants, alleging the city violated state funding agreements.
- The revised policy allows officers to detain individuals for a "reasonably necessary" period for legitimate purposes discovered during encounters. Mayor John Whitmire says the language "reinforces the Fourth Amendment" and satisfies state requirements.
- Opposing the measure, Council Member Alejandra Salinas and Council Member Abbie Kamin voted against the amendment, arguing it compromises Fourth Amendment rights and yields to state political pressure.
- Abbott's office will now decide whether the amendment satisfies state grant agreements, a determination critical for restoring police operations and security preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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The Houston City Council, the most populous city in Texas, modified a series of guidelines Wednesday that sought to limit collaboration between the local police and immigration authorities, in the face of threats from the state governor to withdraw $114 million in funding. The guidelines sought to prohibit police officers from prolonging detention more than is necessary during meetings with authorities, such as traffic stops, so that the person …
der Standard AT
der Standard DEThe Republican Governor threatened to withhold tens of millions of funding from the democratically governed World Cup venue in Texas
Sanctuary city backs off after GOP governor put it in ‘crisis’ mode with $110 million threat
Houston City Council voted to soften a sanctuary-style policy limiting ICE cooperation after Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to pull more than $110 million in state funding.
Temple Daily Telegram
Houston City Council approves gutting policy limiting ICE cooperation, civil rights groups say
HOUSTON — The City Council for Texas’ largest city voted 13-4 to amend an ordinance that limits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, as it faces a major funding threat from Gov. Greg Abbott.
Houston City Council, Mayor, Put Politics Above People in Vote to Approve Ordinance Regarding ICE/HPD Collaboration | Immigrant Legal Resource Center
Houston City Council, Mayor, Put Politics Above People in Vote to Approve Ordinance Regarding ICE/HPD Collaboration 04/22/2026 ddelacruz Wed, 04/22/2026 - 11:37 (Houston, Texas)—Rather than stand firm to protect all communities from the Houston Police Department’s (HPD) overzealous and unconstitutional collaboration with ICE since last year, the City Council voted to eliminate an ordinance that set clear parameters and 4th amendment protection…
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