Updated 27 April 2026 at 13:01 IST

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s office turned preparations for the 2026 World Cup into the latest front in the U.S. battle over immigration enforcement, with the threat of pulling or withholding public safety grants from Houston, Dallas, and Austin unless the cities changed policies that state officials said limited police cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

According to The Texas Tribune, the funding at risk totaled about $200 million across the three cities, including World Cup-related public safety money for Dallas and grants tied to Houston’s role as one of the tournament’s host cities. The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to begin June 11 and will be played across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Houston, the largest city in Texas, moved first. Its City Council voted 13-4 to amend an ordinance that had restricted police from detaining people solely on ICE administrative warrants. Mayor John Whitmire’s office said the change would protect $114 million in state funding while preserving protections against unreasonable detention, Reuters reported.

The original Houston ordinance had removed a requirement that police wait up to 30 minutes for ICE agents to pick up people named in civil immigration warrants. The amendment dropped language that explicitly barred that practice and removed a description of ICE administrative warrants as not having been reviewed by a judge.

Abbott’s office called the Houston change “a step in the right direction.” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton had already sued Houston officials over the policy, arguing that it violated Senate Bill 4, the state law that bars local governments from adopting measures that “materially limit” immigration enforcement.

Dallas also revised its police policy after Abbott’s office warned that the city could lose more than $32 million in public safety grants and more than $55 million in World Cup public safety funding. The new policy says officers may ask about immigration status when a person is lawfully detained or arrested, share that information with federal authorities, and assist ICE agents when “reasonable or necessary.”

Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux said the department’s mission had not changed. “Our officers will follow the law, and our updated policy will affirm that we will cooperate with federal authorities when required,” Comeaux said, according to FOX Dallas-Fort Worth. “DPD exists to protect the safety of everyone in Dallas, and we will not stop individuals only to determine their immigration status.”

Civil rights groups criticized the pressure campaign. “Houston city council caved to the governor’s threats and intimidation,” Caro Rivera Nelson, an attorney with the ACLU of Texas, told Reuters. “The effective repeal of Proposition A is a stain on our state.”

Abbott’s office said the state expects cities to comply with Texas law. “Governor Abbott has been clear: cities in Texas must fully comply with state law and cooperate with federal immigration authorities to keep dangerous criminals off our streets,” spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris said.

.

RUNAWAY BAY, Texas – At least one person was killed and numerous others have been injured after a powerful storm that apparently produced at least one tornado ripped across North Texas on Saturday night.

What we know:

Wise County Judge J.D. Clark confirmed at least one fatality in Runaway Bay after an apparent tornado hit the town on the banks of Lake Bridgeport. He said numerous other people have been injured and at least 20 families have been displaced.

A photo shared by FOX 4 News viewer Chad Casey showed what appeared to be a funnel that was backlit by lightning near Runaway Bay.

A FOX 4 News crew that arrived in the town about 50 miles northwest of Fort Worth found emergency vehicles along a highway, with power lines down and debris in the roadway.

The National Weather Service had issued a Tornado Warning for the area of Wise County where Runaway Bay is located at the time the damage happened. The NWS also warned people in the path of the storm of very large hail and damaging winds.

A Tornado Warning was also in effect for the Springtown area in Parker County when the same storm caused damage about 25 miles northwest of Fort Worth. 

Parker County officials reported a structure had collapsed in the Springtown area, and two people may be trapped inside. Chad Casey also shared video with FOX 4 News that showed damage to structures, billboards and vehicles.

What we don’t know:

The identity of the person killed by the storm has not yet been released.

The NWS will likely survey the damage Sunday to determine if a tornado indeed happened. If so, the agency will also assign a rating to the twister.

What they’re saying:

Clark said the American Red Cross is headed to the scene in Runaway Bay to help displaced families.

“A Reunification Center has been established at: 513 Port O’ Call Drive, Runaway Bay,” Clark wrote in a Facebook post. “Families seeking information about loved ones or needing assistance are encouraged to report to this location.”

He said everyone but first responders should avoid the Runaway Bay area.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for updates.