Austin, TX
Texas Governor Threatens Austin, Dallas and Houston’s World Cup Funding Over ICE Fight
Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images
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.
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Anadolu staff
18 May 2026•Update: 18 May 2026
Two suspects were taken into custody and police continued searching for a third suspect on Sunday following a series of shootings in Austin, Texas that injured four people, authorities said.
Austin Police Department Chief Lisa Davis said the suspects were linked to at least 10 attacks carried out between Saturday and Sunday, adding that one victim sustained serious injuries while three others suffered minor wounds.
Police said the shootings appeared to be random and that no clear motive had been identified. Most incidents occurred in South Austin, including at least two shootings targeting fire stations.
“At this time, the investigation is ongoing, and APD (Austin Police Department) asks that our community remain vigilant,” the department said in a press release.
Authorities lifted a shelter-in-place order that had been issued for parts of South Austin, while a separate order remained in effect Sunday in the nearby Manor area as officers searched for the remaining suspect.
The Austin Fire Department said two of its stations were struck by gunfire in separate incidents late Saturday and Sunday morning, though no firefighters were injured and only minor damage was reported.
Officials urged residents to remain vigilant and asked anyone with information to contact police or Crime Stoppers, a community-based, non-profit program that allows citizens to submit anonymous tips about criminal activity and unsolved cases.
AUSTIN, TX — One person is dead after a vehicle hit a semi-truck and rolled over on US 183 in Northwest Austin early Sunday morning, police said.
Officers responded to the 11200 block of northbound Research Boulevard, near Balcones Woods Drive, at 2:24 a.m.
ALSO | Shelter-in-place lifted after SWAT response in Kyle; suspect taken into custody
The Austin Police Department initially said that one person was taken to the hospital, but later confirmed the person had been pronounced deceased.
The driver of the semi-truck remained at the scene.
All northbound lanes of US 183 near Breaker Lane are shut down. Drivers are advised to expect delays and plan alternate routes.
The Texas Longhorns have continued to take care of business as they attempt to defend their national championship, beginning the NCAA Tournament in commanding fashion.
The Longhorns hit the field for the first game of the Austin Regional on Friday and rolled, taking down Wagner 9-1. And now Texas is into the regional final after a decisive victory on Saturday afternoon.
With a ticket on the line to the regional final the Longhorns would face off against the No. 8-seeded Wisconsin Badgers. And the Longhorns would make quick work of the matchup winning with another run rule game taking down the Badgers 9-0 in six innings.
Texas Gets Off to Quick Start and Doesn’t Look Back
While the Longhorns got through their first game on Friday it was without a bit of struggle having a slow start to begin the ballgame. However, Texas would not have any time struggling to settle into the game against Wisconsin dominating from the first inning.
Texas would get out to an early lead from the jump scoring in the first inning and would not slow down for the rest of the afternoon. The Longhorns would start the game with a three run first inning with junior Viviana Martinez batting in her third run of the Austin Regional.
Getting her bat hot again would be senior Reese Atwood who broke out of a slump of being without a home run for the last seven games. Atwood would break out of the cold streak with a two run blast giving Texas a 3-0 lead they would not look back from.
“It felt good to finally have one leave the yard,” Atwood said. “My confidence comes from my preparation, not my performance or my batting average, so just having confidence that I’m working as hard as I can.”
The Longhorns would score runs in the first three innings of the ballgame putting the contest out of reach before it really had a chance to start. Texas would lead 7-0 from the third inning and would threaten the run rule for the rest of the game.
And the run rule would come into effect in the sixth inning courtesy of a two run home run from junior Kayden Henry. The junior would homer to left field as she ended the game 3-4 from the plate and four RBI.
Just like the Longhorns dominated from inside the batters box they did the same from the circle. Getting her first action of the Austin Regional junior Teagan Kavan would toss five shutout innings allowing just a single hit and struck out eight batters.
The Longhorns now are a game away from hosting a Super Regional on their home field at Red and Charline McCombs Field. While the opponent for Texas in the regional final is still to be determined the game will be on Sunday May 17 at 12:00 p.m. CT.
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