Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued a warning regarding the potential withdrawal of approximately $2.5 million in state grants allocated to Austin, citing the city’s approach to police cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
This development follows an investigation initiated by Attorney General Ken Paxton, focusing on Austin’s policies concerning its collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In March, the Austin Police Department (APD) established new guidelines for interactions with ICE agents when officers suspect that an individual may be residing in the country without authorization. These guidelines stipulate that officers must seek supervisory approval before communicating with ICE regarding individuals who possess a civil “administrative warrant” — a type of noncriminal warrant flagged by ICE. However, communication with ICE is mandatory for suspects facing criminal charges under these rules.
Abbott argued that these policies “impede or restrict the notification” to ICE and may violate the terms of the grant agreements.
Andrew Mahaleris, spokesperson for Abbott, emphasized the safety implications of the situation. “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,” Mahaleris stated. “It can have deadly consequences. Cities in Texas are expected to make the streets safer, not more deadly.”
Officials in Austin have noted that the grants at stake offer vital mental health services to police officers, support survivors of sexual assault, enhance community preparedness against cybersecurity threats and terrorism, and improve responses to violent crimes against women.
In a letter addressed to Mayor Kirk Watson and city council members, Abbott demanded a response by April 23, insisting that the city either repeal the new rules or face the termination of the grants. Should the grants be revoked, the city would be obligated to repay the full amount within 30 days.
City Manager T.C. Broadnax defended the updated policies, stating they were essential due to the addition of over 700,000 noncriminal administrative warrants to the National Crime Information Center database in early 2025. This database is utilized by law enforcement nationwide for crime data sharing.
Broadnax asserted that officers required clear instructions on managing these warrants.
In response, Watson expressed that the APD’s revised rules were designed to ensure that officers effectively address public safety demands, optimize limited police resources, and provide clarity when dealing with ICE administrative warrants. He emphasized that these rules align with state requirements.
“The City of Austin has made significant strides in public safety — but our APD officers do not have the capacity — and should not be asked — to perform the duties of other entities,” Watson remarked. “It is ironic that the state would attempt to penalize the city for offering services that enhance the safety of Austinites by threatening grants that support that very safety.”
