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‘A Crisis Situation’: State Threatens to Pull Public Safety Funding over Ordinance Limiting when HPD Can Call ICE
The state says the ordinance breaches grant agreements and could force Houston to repay the full amount if it does not repeal the measure.
- On Monday, Texas officials threatened to withdraw $110 million in public safety grants from Houston over a recently passed immigration ordinance limiting Houston Police Department cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement .
- Governor Greg Abbott's office claims the ordinance violates an April 15, 2025 certification requiring the city to 'participate fully' in Department of Homeland Security procedures regarding undocumented immigrants.
- Calling the funding threat a "crisis," Mayor John Whitmire warned the loss endangers police, fire services, and 2026 FIFA World Cup preparations in Houston.
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into whether the ordinance violates Senate Bill 4, while Councilmember Alejandra Salinas defended it as a legal protection for civil rights.
- The state set an April 20 deadline for Houston to repeal the ordinance, with failure to comply forcing the city to repay the $110 million within 30 days.
28 Articles
28 Articles
Mayor John Whitmire justified his change of position, following Greg Abbott's threat to withdraw more than $110 million from the city
Texas cities try to address citizen anger over immigration crackdown without riling state leaders
By Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune April 15, 2026 As he campaigned for Houston mayor three years ago, John Whitmire repeatedly leaned on his Austin connections after serving five decades in the Capitol, first as a state representative and then as a senator, to pitch himself as a peacemaker following years of GOP state leaders clashing with the city’s Democratic leaders. “They’re ready to sit down and see how they can assist Houston,” the ve…
Greg Abbott Threatens Houston Police Funding Due To ICE Ordinance
Source: Brandon Bell / Getty Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has once again shown he cares more about being the Trump administration’s lapdog than protecting the rights of the people he was elected to represent. On Monday, Abbott threatened to revoke $110 million in public safety funding if the city of Houston didn’t repeal a new ordinance regarding how long officers can hold a suspect who may have an administrative warrant from ICE. According to the Ne…
El Paso Inc.
After claiming HPD would cooperate with ICE, Whitmire now faces losing $110M in grants
(The Center Square) – Houston Mayor John Whitmire is in trouble with the state after certifying on a grant application that the city and Houston Police Department would cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement after the city council passed…
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