Texas Governor Greg Abbott has warned the City of Houston it could lose roughly $110 million in state public safety funding unless it changes or repeals a newly passed city ordinance that alters how local police interact with federal immigration authorities. The warning arrived in a letter from the governor’s office on Monday, escalating a confrontation between state officials and municipal leaders days after Houston’s City Council approved the contentious measure.
The ordinance, sponsored by council members Alejandra Salinas, Abbie Kamin and Edward Pollard, removes an earlier local rule that had required Houston police officers to wait as long as 30 minutes for federal immigration agents to arrive. Supporters of the change say it strengthens civil-rights protections and helps build trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement. Opponents say it undermines cooperation with federal immigration authorities and leaves the city vulnerable to state retaliation.
Within two days of the council vote, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton opened an investigation into whether the ordinance violates state law. The governor’s letter now asserts the city is out of compliance and ties that finding to the potential loss of the $110 million in public safety grants and allocations. City officials say those funds underwrite police and fire operations, equipment and security planning for major events — including preparation related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches that Houston is slated to host.
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Mayor John Whitmire, who supported the ordinance, called the governor’s action a “crisis” and warned that rescinding the funds would produce real consequences for Houston residents and first responders. “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,” Whitmire said in a statement. He and other ordinance backers argue the policy aligns with current Houston Police Department practices and constitutional protections under the Fourth Amendment.
Councilmember Alejandra Salinas defended the ordinance in the face of the governor’s threat, calling the move an “attempt to bully our city for doing what is right,” and asserting the change is lawful. Councilmember Twila Carter, one of five members who voted against the ordinance, said the letter was not surprising and questioned how the city would absorb a sudden $110 million shortfall. “Wow… where does anyone find $110 million?” Carter asked.
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City leaders expected pushback and have signaled they will consider options at an upcoming public safety committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday morning. Legal experts and municipal officials will likely weigh the state’s claims of noncompliance against the city’s authority to set local policies governing police conduct. The unfolding dispute sets the stage for what could be a protracted legal and political battle over the balance of state and local control in Texas, with immediate implications for emergency services and large-scale event planning in Houston.
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