Abbott's Funding Threat: Cities Fight Back

0:00It's April 22nd. This is U.S. News Today. U.S. News powered by AI. Texas Governor Greg Abbott just dropped a deadline on Houston, Dallas, and Austin leaders revised your local policies on working with federal. Immigration agents by Wednesday or kiss over $150 million in public safety funding. Goodbye. That cash includes security for this summer's World Cup matches. Critics say he's straight up channeling former President Trump's strong-armed playbook to force compliance. It all kicked off in Houston with a new city council ordinance that spells out when cops can hold people wanted by ice. Basically, only during the... Original reason for a stop. Abbott called it a violation of state funding deals and expanded the heat to Dallas and Austin for similar stances. City folks are firing back hard. Houston councilwoman Alejandro Salinas labored it bullying like Trump did, while another Abbey commune warned it all rode local control if they cave.

1:00Mayor John Whitmeyer is playing it smart, pushing ordinance tweets to keep the money flowing without a full fight. Austin's mayor dismissed it as political theater, and Dallas stayed quiet. Legal heats building too. Texas AG Ken Paxton sued Houston over the rule, and Senator John Cornens floating a federal bill to yank funds from. Non-cooperative cities. Law props point out, ice detentions my clash with Fourth Amendment rights against unlawful holds. Abbott's holding firm, calling it a straight contract issue from funding packs, not some constitutional drama. With the clock ticking and lawsuits flying, these cities got to pick their battles or watch that funding vanish.