What a difference an Election Day makes. Suddenly, some people don't have to pretend to go along to get along.
Back in April, the Texas city of Houston was going through the progressive resistance spasms we saw erupting all over the country once these areas realized Trump's immigration policies were #ForRealz.
The city council, despite the mayor's cautions, drafted as close to a sanctuary policy as possible in Texas, without actually calling themselves 'Boston South.' But they for sure weren't going to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Border Patrol agents load up any local hombres for quick trips back over the border.
It was a hill they swore to die on, plus it tested well with a large swath of constituents.
Sadly for their efforts, Greg Abbott bears no resemblance to Maura Healey.
...This is where Houston's story diverges from Boston's. Whereas MA Governor Maura Healey is completely on board with the tune Michelle Wu warbles, Texas Governor Greg Abbott did not care for the song Houston was singing the very second he heard the first few notes.
And he let them know, posthaste, in a note that said 'Correct yourselves immediately, or else.'
When they didn't, Daddy Abbott snapped the wallet shut just that fast and cut the naughty port city's allowance off.
Millions of dollars in public safety funding have been frozen for Houston following a recent change in the city's immigration policy, according to city officials.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire's office confirmed the update to ABC13 on Tuesday, saying the state had froze nearly $115 million in public safety funding. During a meeting, Whitmire added that some services by the Houston Police Department had been halted as a result of Gov. Greg Abbott's actions...
As they also say in the South, that don't make no nevermind. And the truculent progs gave it another try with slightly less abrasive terms a week later, once again with the mayor whining, 'I don't think the governor is gonna buy it...' Not to mention, the police union hadn't signed off on cooperation in accordance with the revamped terms, either.
Eventually, it all settled into an uneasy truce. Houston PD has called ICE when warranted over the past months, reporting the number of times to the council every quarter. Houston Mayor John Whitmire was as defensive as ever about *checks notes* enforcing the law.
Houston police officers contacted federal immigration agents 88 times from July through the end of September, according to data issued by the department on Thursday.
The calls happened when officers found people with immigration warrants. On average, officers detained people for approximately 45 minutes while waiting for agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to respond.
According to the figures from the Houston Police Department (HPD), 58 people were released after the calls, 13 were taken to jail for new charges, and 17 were taken into ICE custody.
In 33 cases, officers were responding to a call for emergency services when they encountered someone with an immigration warrant. The data report doesn’t make clear whether the person placing the call for help was the subject of the warrant.
"Out of 300,000 contacts [between HPD and citizens] that have 17 end with ICE involvement speaks for itself," Houston Mayor John Whitmire told reporters on Wednesday. "Very small, very small number. And for anyone to say different about our involvement is just wrong."
Then the midterms happened this past Tuesday. Boommity blue-ity.
And granted, it's sort of early to be showing your colors because regime change hasn't taken place oath-wise yet, but, oh - what the heck.
Houston is feeling blue and wants to tell these people to blow it out of their ears now.
Abbott lost less than a day ago. Houston City Council is already lining up to bring the anti-ICE ordinance back. On Wednesday, Council Member Hollins said the city's excuse for cooperating with ICE was that Abbott made them. "That is no longer the case." Council Member Alejandra Salinas wants her ordinance back in January, maybe sooner. That's the same one that limited how HPD works with ICE until Abbott threatened $114 million in grants and Mayor Whitmire pushed a repeal. Gina Hinojosa hasn't been sworn in yet. Houston is already testing her promise to end ICE cooperation statewide. America's fourth-largest city couldn't wait one full day. This is what Texas just voted for. https://t.co/IemDvmesId
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) November 5, 2026
...Council Member Alejandra Salinas wants her ordinance back in January, maybe sooner.
That's the same one that limited how HPD works with ICE until Abbott threatened $114 million in grants and Mayor Whitmire pushed a repeal.
Gina Hinojosa hasn't been sworn in yet.
Houston is already testing her promise to end ICE cooperation statewide.
America's fourth-largest city couldn't wait one full day. This is what Texas just voted for.
What could Abbott do that can't be undone in two months?
Whitmire's got it posted for all to see on the city's webpage.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire announces HPD will reduce ICE cooperation following midterm results
Prompted by the midterm election results, Houston Mayor John Whitmire said Friday he’s directing the Houston Police Department to reduce contact with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
Whitmire issued a new executive order directing HPD officers to contact ICE officers only when a person with an administrative ICE warrant is charged with a jailable offense, Whitmire said.
“Department personnel shall contact ICE regarding a person only if that person is already going to jail on new charges or other warrants and has a positive National Crime Information Center (NCIC) hit for an ICE administrative warrant,” Whitmire said in the order.
“The fact that a person is, or is suspected to be, subject to immigration enforcement shall not, by itself, be a basis to contact ICE, to prolong any detention, or to take any person into or hold any person in custody,” the order stated. “If a person is not otherwise going to jail on new charges or other warrants, Department personnel shall not contact ICE regarding that person.”
Welp.
@JennieSTaer "I am ordering Law Enforcement Officers to stop from Enforcing the Law"...this is what I am hearing
— Tekholms.aptm (@adsilva264) November 6, 2026
...The Houston Police Dept was forced to work with ICE after the Abbott threatened to pull more than $110 million in funding from the city.
Now, with Gina Hinojosa taking control of the state, local police will let any illegal immigrant they encounter who doesn't have a jail worthy offense go free without notifying ICE.
Enjoy the bluest of blue, Houston.
