Politics

Gov. Greg Abbott is threatening to pull $110 million in grant funds from Houston if the city does not revoke its new policy limiting cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

The director of Abbott’s Public Safety Office, Andrew Friedrichs, told Mayor John Whitmire that Houston was out of compliance with its agreement for state grant funds and must revoke the policy by April 20, according to a letter obtained by the Houston Chronicle. If the city does not, the letter states, Houston would be on the hook for repaying $110 million within 30 days of the grant's termination.

Houston City Council last week eliminated a police department policy that required officers to wait 30 minutes for ICE agents to pick up people with civil immigration warrants. It also required the department to make reports to the council about its cooperation with ICE. The proposal passed in a 12-5 vote, with Whitmire in support.