HOUSTON, TX - The Houston City Council voted to amend its ICE ordinance after Mayor John Whitmire told them there was no other choice.
Early this week, Mayor Whitmire's office released an amendment to an immigration ordinance that the council passed two weeks prior, ABC13 reported. Whitmire proposed the amendment after Governor Abbott froze state funds in response to Houston Police Department's (HPD) cooperation with immigration officials' policy.
More than 100 people showed up to speak at the meeting on Tuesday during the public session to voice their opinion on the extent to which HPD officers should cooperate with immigration enforcement, according to ABC13.
Prior to the amended proposal, council members said officers were required to wait 30 minutes for an ICE agent if someone they stopped had an administrative civil warrant. The ordinance aimed to change that.
Governor Abbott threatened to withhold $114 million in public safety funding if the city didn't change its ordinance. On Wednesday, the day after the meeting, Whitmire told the council they had no other option. "We have no alternative for Houston to survive, prepare for FIFA, patrol these neighborhoods, deal with sound ordinances," he said.
Before they voted, council members questioned the city attorney whether the new language allows officers to wait 30 minutes for agents over administrative warrants. He told them that although the amended version removes language giving that protection, nothing really changes from the ordinance adopted two weeks ago.
His response was enough for six council members, who decided to side with the mayor, and the vote ended 13 to 4 in favor. "The difference is we're going to receive the money now," council member Joaquin Martinez explained. "That's what I was focused on. Folks wanted to continue to debate what is the difference. It was already mentioned that there is very little difference."
"I didn't want it to go back to the governor for us to still be at a place where we still have not made a decision," council member Carolyn Evans-Shabazz said. "I think he should be happy with what was passed. I know that I am." Other council members fear that the amended ordinance is unclear.
Council members Tiffany Thomas, Edward Pollard, Abbie Kamin, and Alejandra Salinas voted against the amended ordinance. Kamin said that removing words and some protective language could make the new version muddy. "It is not clear," Kamin said. "It is extremely vague. I'm concerned it opens up the window for further strongarming by the state of Texas."
After the city attorney told council members the amended version didn't really change the original ordinance, some council members wondered why money was frozen, a lawsuit was filed, and a special meeting was called.
"What we did today and what has been taking place over the last couple of weeks, with a thought to repeal, or all these special-called meetings, was political theater," Pollard said.
Early this week, Mayor Whitmire's office released an amendment to an immigration ordinance that the council passed two weeks prior, ABC13 reported. Whitmire proposed the amendment after Governor Abbott froze state funds in response to Houston Police Department's (HPD) cooperation with immigration officials' policy.
More than 100 people showed up to speak at the meeting on Tuesday during the public session to voice their opinion on the extent to which HPD officers should cooperate with immigration enforcement, according to ABC13.
Prior to the amended proposal, council members said officers were required to wait 30 minutes for an ICE agent if someone they stopped had an administrative civil warrant. The ordinance aimed to change that.
Governor Abbott threatened to withhold $114 million in public safety funding if the city didn't change its ordinance. On Wednesday, the day after the meeting, Whitmire told the council they had no other option. "We have no alternative for Houston to survive, prepare for FIFA, patrol these neighborhoods, deal with sound ordinances," he said.
Before they voted, council members questioned the city attorney whether the new language allows officers to wait 30 minutes for agents over administrative warrants. He told them that although the amended version removes language giving that protection, nothing really changes from the ordinance adopted two weeks ago.
His response was enough for six council members, who decided to side with the mayor, and the vote ended 13 to 4 in favor. "The difference is we're going to receive the money now," council member Joaquin Martinez explained. "That's what I was focused on. Folks wanted to continue to debate what is the difference. It was already mentioned that there is very little difference."
"I didn't want it to go back to the governor for us to still be at a place where we still have not made a decision," council member Carolyn Evans-Shabazz said. "I think he should be happy with what was passed. I know that I am." Other council members fear that the amended ordinance is unclear.
Council members Tiffany Thomas, Edward Pollard, Abbie Kamin, and Alejandra Salinas voted against the amended ordinance. Kamin said that removing words and some protective language could make the new version muddy. "It is not clear," Kamin said. "It is extremely vague. I'm concerned it opens up the window for further strongarming by the state of Texas."
After the city attorney told council members the amended version didn't really change the original ordinance, some council members wondered why money was frozen, a lawsuit was filed, and a special meeting was called.
"What we did today and what has been taking place over the last couple of weeks, with a thought to repeal, or all these special-called meetings, was political theater," Pollard said.
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