Tensions between Texas state leadership and several major cities intensified this week as Gov. Greg Abbott’s office issued formal warnings to Austin and Dallas, stating that policies limiting local police cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement could result in the loss of tens of millions of dollars in public safety funding.
The warnings, delivered in letters from Andrew Friedrichs, Executive Director for the Governor’s Public Safety Office, specify that Austin stands to lose at least $2.5 million in grants, while Dallas could lose at least $32.1 million. The letter also warns Dallas that an additional $55.1 million tied to public safety preparations for the FIFA World Cup could also be at risk if its policy remains unchanged.
The state argues that both cities are in violation of agreements tied to grant funding. According to the letters, city governments previously agreed that police would “participate fully … in all aspects of the programs and procedures utilized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security … to (1) notify DHS of all information requested by DHS related to illegal aliens” in custody and “(2) detain such illegal aliens in accordance with request by DHS.”
State Officials Defend Funding Threats
The state’s position was reinforced in comments from Andrew Mahaleris, press secretary to Abbott, who said in a statement to The Texan:
“A city's failure to comply with its contract agreement with the state to assist in the enforcement of immigration laws makes the state less safe,” said Andrew Mahaleris, press secretary to Abbott, in a statement to The Texan. “It can have deadly consequences. Cities in Texas are expected to make the streets safer, not more deadly.”
Houston Faces Similar Pressure
The dispute follows similar action targeting Houston, where city leaders recently approved a policy prohibiting officers from detaining suspects with ICE administrative warrants while waiting for federal agents. However, the ordinance still requires the Houston Police Department to contact ICE and imposes new reporting requirements, including quarterly disclosures on ICE interactions, reasons for contact, demographic data of suspects, and officer identifiers.
State officials have warned Houston it could lose $110 million in grants and be required to repay funds if it does not repeal the ordinance. A special City Council meeting initially scheduled for April 17 was postponed to April 22 as negotiations continue.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire described the situation as urgent, saying in a statement:
“After discussions with the Governor’s office, our deadline to respond to the state’s freeze on public safety grant funding has been moved from Monday, April 20, to Wednesday, April 22, to give my administration additional time to continue productive discussions with the Governor’s office, City Council members, law enforcement, and the community,” said Whitmire in a statement.
“As I said earlier, this is a crisis. We have already lost state grant funding, which affects the Houston Police and Fire Departments, public safety services across our city, preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the Department of Homeland Security. Our public safety departments rely on a combination of local, state, and federal resources to operate effectively,” he added. “We are making significant progress through constructive conversations.”
Austin and Dallas Defend Local Policies
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson defended the city’s revised police procedures, stating:
“Providing public safety is a primary function of our City government. The Austin Police Department’s General Orders were revised earlier this year to assure our officers can best meet local public safety needs, maximize the use of our limited police resources, and provide much needed clarity to officers when encountering ICE administrative warrants. We believe the revised General Orders are consistent with state requirements, including SB4.”
Watson also argued that federal grant programs at risk include critical victim services, saying the threatened funds support programs for officers experiencing trauma, survivors of sexual assault, and responses to violent crimes against women.
Dallas officials, including Mayor Eric Johnson, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
State and Federal Legal Pressure Mounts
The legal and political conflict is unfolding alongside increased scrutiny from state officials. In 2025, the Texas Office of the Attorney General opened an investigation into Dallas’ policy under Senate Bill 4, a 2017 state law targeting so-called sanctuary jurisdictions. No enforcement action was taken at the time. However, in recent weeks, Attorney General Ken Paxton has expanded investigations to include Austin and Houston.
At the federal level, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn announced new legislation aimed at strengthening cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE, including provisions that could restrict certain federal funds for jurisdictions that limit cooperation.
Meanwhile, the Harris County Commissioners Court has directed its attorney to evaluate a potential ICE cooperation policy for future consideration, signaling that additional local governments may soon enter the debate.
