Austin's Police Policy Update Averts Funding Loss

Austin just dropped a big update to his police department rules after Governor Greg

Abbott threatened to pull $2.5 million in public.

Safety grants.

The beef?

Austin's policy on dealing with ICE agents wasn't cutting it for the state.

This kicked off back in March when Austin cops got new orders, no arrests or detentions

based only on an ICE administrative warrant, and they had to.

Check with a supervisor before looping in ICE.

Those grants fund trauma help for first responders and sexual assault victims, so losing them

would hit hard.

Public backlash lit the fuse after a mom and her kid got deported following a 911 call

here.

Officers spotted the warrant in a federal database and tipped off IC.

Mayor Kirk Watson stood by the old rules at first, saying they matched state law, but he

couldn't risk those vital services vanishing.

Now they've struck a deal with the state.

The revised orders balance everyday policing realities, avoid harm from those non-criminal

warrants, and lock in the funding.

Austin calls it practical for Austin streets while easing the governor's worries.

Meanwhile Houston and Dallas face their own threats.

Houston's staring down $110 million at risk, Dallas about $87 million, and both quickly

tweaked policies to boost ICE teamwork.

Austin's move keeps the peace funding flowing as tensions simmer between cities and state

on immigration enforcement.

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