HOUSTON — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to withdraw $110 million in public safety grants from the city of Houston in a letter sent Monday to Mayor John Whitmire over a newly approved city policy limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
The warning followed Whitmire’s support for an ordinance that restricts the Houston Police Department from detaining individuals or extending traffic stops based on civil immigration warrants issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The measure passed the Houston City Council in a 12–5 vote.
In the letter, Abbott’s office set an April 20 deadline for the city to confirm it will not enforce the ordinance and will act to repeal it.
Whitmire said the potential loss of funding would affect police and fire services, preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and coordination with the Department of Homeland Security. He described the situation as a crisis and said city officials are considering their options.
The mayor’s office scheduled a special city council meeting for Friday to consider repealing the ordinance.
Council members Alejandra Salinas, Edward Pollard, and Abbie Kamin sponsored the measure. The policy removed a prior requirement for officers to wait up to 30 minutes for ICE agents to respond.
Pollard urged the mayor to defend the policy, while Salinas criticized the state’s action as an attempt to pressure the city. Kamin said the threat could reduce funding for public safety services.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also said he would block implementation of the ordinance and notified the city of an investigation into possible violations of state law.
The dispute marks a shift in relations between Houston and the state government. Whitmire previously said he aimed to maintain cooperation with state leaders after years of conflict under former Mayor Sylvester Turner.
Houston faces a projected $174 million budget deficit as the fiscal year ends in June, adding pressure as officials weigh the potential loss of state funding.
