Houston changes ordinance limiting cooperation with ICE after pressure from governor
The revised plan keeps Fourth Amendment limits on detentions and adds quarterly reporting as city leaders seek to restore about $110 million in state funding.
- On Wednesday, the Houston City Council voted 13-4 to amend a police ordinance governing cooperation with federal immigration authorities, aiming to restore $110 million in state public safety funding frozen by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
- Abbott froze the $110 million in grants last week after the council previously restricted Houston Police Department officers from detaining individuals solely for ICE administrative warrants, alleging the city violated state funding agreements.
- The revised policy allows officers to detain individuals for a "reasonably necessary" period for legitimate purposes discovered during encounters. Mayor John Whitmire says the language "reinforces the Fourth Amendment" and satisfies state requirements.
- Opposing the measure, Council Member Alejandra Salinas and Council Member Abbie Kamin voted against the amendment, arguing it compromises Fourth Amendment rights and yields to state political pressure.
- Abbott's office will now decide whether the amendment satisfies state grant agreements, a determination critical for restoring police operations and security preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
57 Articles
57 Articles
Houston Backs Off Sanctuary Policy
The city of Houston, Texas, has walked back on a policy that blocked police from assisting in ICE operations. “Following aggressive legal action by my office, Houston is now taking action to reverse its sanctuary policy,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said. “My office will continue to review the updated ordinance and ensure that the City of Houston fully complies with SB 4 and does not restrict law enforcement’s ability to assist ICE and enf…
Sanctuary city bends knee to Texas governor after he threatened cutting $110 million in funding · American Wire News
Houston, a left-wing city, has bent the knee to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott after he threatened cutting $110 million in funding. The drama between Houston and Abbott began earlier this month when the City Council voted to eliminate a policy forcing local police to wait for the arrival of U.S. Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agents when dealing with a suspect with an immigration warrant. “An ICE administrative warrant is civil in nature and, alone, does…
Texas Standard
Houston Public MediaHouston City Council revises HPD-ICE policy change after threat from Texas governor
According to an internal document, HPD leadership never changed the department’s policy around interactions with ICE despite the city council’s ordinance two weeks ago. The city attorney said the department will need to update its policy.
The Houston City Council, the most populous city in Texas, modified a series of guidelines Wednesday that sought to limit collaboration between the local police and immigration authorities, in the face of threats from the state governor to withdraw $114 million in funding. The guidelines sought to prohibit police officers from prolonging detention more than is necessary during meetings with authorities, such as traffic stops, so that the person …
der Standard AT
der Standard DEThe Republican Governor threatened to withhold tens of millions of funding from the democratically governed World Cup venue in Texas
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