Catch up quick on Houston's ICE vote this week
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Houston police in Third Ward. Photo: Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images
Houston City Council will vote this week on amending an ordinance curbing cooperation between police and ICE agents, as opposed to repealing it as originally planned.
Why it matters: The new approach could make it easier for Mayor John Whitmire to appease Gov. Greg Abbott's demand that Houston reverse course on the new rules or forgo $110 million in public safety grants.
Catch up quick: In a 12-5 vote this month, City Council passed new rules stating that Houston Police Department officers can no longer detain someone with a noncriminal administrative warrant solely to wait for ICE agents.
- Officers were previously allowed to detain individuals with administrative warrants for as long as it took for ICE agents to arrive and take custody. In March, that was reduced to a 30-minute window.
Threat level: Last week, Abbott froze millions in state grant funding for Houston's police and fire departments, saying the ordinance violated grant agreements between the city and the state of Texas.
- He initially gave Whitmire until Monday to address his concerns, but that deadline was extended to Wednesday.
Flashback: Whitmire, who voted in favor of the changes, ordered a special City Council meeting Friday to repeal the ordinance. In light of the deadline extension, that vote was rescheduled for Wednesday.
The intrigue: City rules require at least 12 of the 17 council members to agree before considering a repeal of an ordinance that's less than 90 days old.
Driving the news: Wednesday's agenda includes an item to amend the ordinance in question, which requires only nine votes, per the Houston Chronicle.
Between the lines: Since only five members opposed the ordinance when it passed, fully repealing it would have been a harder sell for Whitmire to make.
- Whitmire said Friday that he would spend the weekend working out what exactly will be amended.
In a statement to Axios on Monday, Whitmire's office said his administration is "considering all options as we continue to engage with council members, the community and law enforcement."
- The language of the proposal has yet to be posted online. Whitmire's office did not share details on the proposal with Axios when asked.
What's next: City Council will hear public comments on the proposal at 2pm Tuesday before its meeting at 9am Wednesday.