Houston Amends Ordinance on ICE Cooperation Amid State Funding Threats
The Houston City Council has amended an ordinance that previously limited police cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after Texas Governor Greg Abbott threatened to withdraw millions in public safety grants. The ordinance, initially passed two weeks ago, removed the requirement for Houston police to wait for ICE agents to pick up individuals with nonjudicial administrative warrants. Governor Abbott warned that this ordinance violated the terms of $110 million in state grants allocated for police and security during upcoming World Cup games. The amendment followed a lawsuit from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who argued the ordinance violated a 2017 state law against sanctuary city policies. The City Council voted 13 to 4 to amend the ordinance, ensuring compliance with state law and preserving funding. 
