Photo: Bob Levey
Houston Mayor John Whitmire released a new amended immigration enforcement ordinance this afternoon.
Whitmire's administration released details during the city council's public comment session. The vote on the amendment is still set for Wednesday.
The proposed change gives police officers discretion to detain people due to civil immigration warrants. Also, the original ordinance allows officers to detain individuals "only as long as reasonably necessary to complete the legitimate purpose of the initial stop or investigation," while the revision would strike "only" and add, "and for other legitimate purposes discovered during the detention."
This follows around $110 million in state grant funds being frozen by Governor Abbott, saying a recently passed ordinance relating to HPD cooperation with ICE violated an agreement his office had with the city.
According to reporting from out TV Partner Channel 2, a spokesperson with Whitmire's office says it will safeguard the grant money, while also reinforcing "the fourth amendment."