Governor Abbott has issued another warning to the city of Houston, after the City Council last week passed an anti-ICE ordinance.
“Houston received more than $100 million from the state based on a written agreement that they will comply with immigration enforcement,” Abbott posted on social media, “If they refuse to comply, they better get out their checkbook. It will be costly if they refuse to keep their streets safe.”
The ordinance passed by Houston City Council to restrict cooperation between HPD and ICE may never go into effect.
Council Member Amy Peck has confirmed a report from the Houston Chronicle that a special meeting will be held on Friday to consider repealing the ordinance.
This was after Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent a letter to the city warning that he would pull $110M in state funding over the statute.
Mayor John Whitmire released the following statement after receiving a letter from the Governor's Public Safety Office:
"Last week, I voted for the revised "Prop A" Ordinance on Immigration believing it affirmed our original policy: Houston enforces state and local law-not federal law, and we are not ICE. However, Governor Abbott disagrees.
The state notified the City of Houston that it is withdrawing $110 million in public safety grants because the ordinance violates the grants agreements between the state and the City of Houston.
This action follows a letter from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has started an open investigation into whether the ordinance violates Senate Bill 4 (SB4). I repeatedly warned the ordinance sponsors, Council Members Salinas, Kamin, and Pollard about the legal and financial risks associated with this approach.
This is a crisis situation. The potential loss of state funding poses real challenges for the Houston Police and Fire Departments and will impact public safety services across our city, the 2026 FIFA World Cup preparations and the Homeland Security Department. Our public safety departments rely on a combination of local, state, and federal resources to operate effectively.
We have significant work ahead and I'm considering all options."
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