Houston Mayor John Whitmire Unveils Revised ICE Cooperation Ordinance Amid State Funding Threat

Houston Mayor John Whitmire has introduced a revised immigration ordinance aimed at resolving a funding dispute with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who threatened to withhold over $110 million in public safety grants unless the city amended its policy on cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

The proposal comes after Abbott issued a deadline for Houston, Dallas, and Austin to align their local policies with state preferences regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) interactions or risk losing critical funding. Whitmire confirmed that approximately $114 million in public safety funding remains at stake.

The revised ordinance, presented to the Houston City Council for a vote on Wednesday, refines language around field encounters, ICE administrative warrants, and reporting requirements for immigration-related police activities. Whitmire’s office stated the changes create a clear path to restore the threatened funding while addressing concerns raised during public comment.

More than 80 residents spoke during the council’s public comment session, urging consensus on the issue. Councilmembers received the updated ordinance Tuesday afternoon, with some expressing concern about insufficient time to review the changes before the vote.

The move follows Abbott’s broader strategy of using funding pressures to influence local immigration policies, a tactic mirrored in his actions against other major Texas cities. Whitmire emphasized that the revision seeks to balance public safety priorities with community trust in law enforcement.

As of the council vote, no final decision had been reported, but the administration framed the update as a necessary step to secure state funds while maintaining local oversight of police-ICE interactions.