Austin Pushes Back as Abbott’s ICE Funding Deadline Arrives
While Houston blinked and Dallas wavered, Austin’s mayor and city manager are holding the line — calling the governor’s ultimatum ironic and legally baseless.
Today is the day Austin was given to blink.
Gov. Greg Abbott set an April 23 deadline for the city to commit to repealing changes the Austin Police Department made in March to its rules on cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. So far, Austin’s leaders are not backing down.
The standoff began when APD updated its General Order 319.2.2 in early March — revisions clarifying that officers are not authorized to make arrests or detain individuals based solely on a civil, administrative ICE warrant.
Officers are also no longer required to contact ICE or prolong a stop for someone flagged only by a noncriminal warrant. City Manager T.C. Broadnax says the update was necessary after more than 700,000 noncriminal administrative warrants were added to the national crime database in early 2025, leaving officers without clear guidance on how to handle them.
Abbott’s office argues the revised orders violate a certification Broadnax signed in February 2025 as a condition for receiving public safety grants — a pledge that Austin would “participate fully” with DHS and ICE. The grants at risk fund mental health services for officers, support for sexual assault survivors, cybersecurity preparedness, and programs protecting women from violent crime. If terminated, the city would be required to repay the full $2.5 million within 30 days and become ineligible for future state funding.
Mayor Kirk Watson insists APD’s revised policy is fully consistent with state law, including Senate Bill 4, which bars Texas cities from adopting sanctuary city measures. He argues the changes simply provide officers with clarity and maintain supervisory oversight — not a restriction on cooperation. “There is great irony that the state would try to punish the city for providing services that keep Austinites safe by threatening grants that keep Austin safe,” Watson said. Council member Greg Siegel went further: “I absolutely believe we cannot sell our values for $2.5 million.”
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said Wednesday she is optimistic city leaders can reach a compromise with Gov. Greg Abbott over a contentious immigration policy, even as Austin risks losing millions in state funding.
The contrast with Houston is stark. After Abbott threatened to pull over $110 million in grants, Mayor John Whitmire pushed the Houston City Council to revise its own ordinance, calling it a “crisis situation.”
Following aggressive legal action by my office, Houston is now taking action to reverse its sanctuary policy.
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) April 22, 2026
My office will continue to review the updated ordinance and ensure that the City of Houston fully complies with SB 4 and does not restrict law enforcement's ability to… https://t.co/Jk9odJIr65
Dallas, facing more than $32 million in grants plus over $55 million in World Cup public safety funding, is still reviewing its policies.
Austin, facing the smallest dollar amount of the three cities, appears to be the most willing to fight — with Attorney General Ken Paxton already having opened a formal investigation into APD’s policy.
As of today’s deadline, Austin has not signaled it will comply.
The city’s next move could set a precedent — or set off a costly legal battle — for Texas cities trying to define the limits of local policing authority in an era of aggressive federal immigration enforcement.
Sources: Texas Tribune, KUT Radio, Austin Current, KVUE, Houston Public Media — April 2026
The City of San Marcos has acknowledged the suspension of Officer Jaciel Cortina, nearly two weeks after disciplinary action began. The admission follows a public records request regarding a traffic stop that resulted in a local father being placed in ICE custody.
A federal appeals court has cleared the way for the Ten Commandments to hang in every Texas public school classroom — but Austin ISD isn’t required to comply just yet.
In a ruling that sets up a potential clash at the U.S. Supreme Court, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Texas Senate Bill 10, finding the law does not violate the First Amendment’s protections on religious freedom. Nine out of 17 judges on the court sided with Texas officials, arguing the law merely puts a poster on a classroom wall and does not amount to coercing students into religious worship. (Austin American-Statesman)
Q: Ken Paxton said that requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in public classrooms is a ‘major victory for Texas and our moral values.’ What’s your response to Ken Paxton?@JamesTalarico: I’m not sure if Ken Paxton is in a place to lecture us on moral values. My faith… pic.twitter.com/zIvFUidm4N
— Team Talarico (@TeamTalaricoHQ) April 23, 2026
A cargo train derailed in downtown Austin early this morning.
APD says that officers are at the scene of the derailment near Bowie and West 3rd Streets. Early indications are that no hazardous materials were involved and no one was injured.
— 🇨🇦Lisa (@HorseBuff) April 23, 2026
This morning's Train Derailment as seen from 3rd/Bowie. pic.twitter.com/t66HgDgpgI
— Austin Videos (@ATXVideos) April 23, 2026
Austin City Council meets today for its Regular Meeting. On the agenda:
Ceremonial (9:00 AM) Five proclamations will be presented, including Oralia Garza de Cortés Day, International Dark Sky Week, Taniquewa Brewster Day, Austin ISD Volunteer Program Appreciation Day, and KidsFestATX Community Resource Day.
Consent Agenda (routine approvals) The bulk of the agenda covers routine items across many city departments, including:
- Animal & Public Health Services — Interlocal agreements with Travis County for animal services (~$1.6M) and public health services (~$3.1M)
- Historic Preservation — $31.4M in Historic Preservation Fund grants
- Energy — Solar and battery storage agreements (Base Power, UPower, and city-owned solar installations), plus eminent domain actions for the Austin Energy Circuit 961 transmission line project
- Water/Wastewater — Multiple construction contracts, a $59M bond issuance for the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment expansion, and a low-interest loan application for lead service line replacement
- Infrastructure — Construction contracts for waterline extensions, a reclaimed water main, and Colony Park electrical work
- Financial — Bond issuances, Downtown Austin Alliance management extension, and special assessment bonds for Estancia Hill Country
- Transportation — Federal earmark funding for Longhorn Dam multimodal improvements; exemptions for historic buildings from right-of-way encroachment agreements
- Technology — A new city surveillance technology ordinance (Chapter 2-19)
- Aviation — Waste management and distributed antenna/Wi-Fi contracts at the airport
- Economic Development — A Cultural District Funding Model; a 30-year hotel development agreement near Circuit of the Americas
Public Hearings Topics include adopting the 2026 National Electrical Code, billboard relocation regulations, three disannexation requests, a festival beach parkland use change for an Austin Energy transmission line, and FY2026-27 federal housing funding community input.
Zoning Cases Several rezoning hearings, including the Circuit of the Americas PUD amendment (related to the new hotel), a South Shore PUD addition on Lady Bird Lake, and a liquor sales rezoning on East Cesar Chavez (which has a valid opposition petition filed).
Council-Initiated Items Notable resolutions include a “Safe to Call” policy to protect vulnerable residents contacting emergency services, a solar/battery access expansion study for Austin Energy, a MoPac South environmental review request, and co-sponsorship of the Austin Dragon Boat Festival.
Executive Session (closed) Legal discussions on a transportation user fee lawsuit, SB 4 immigration enforcement obligations, and the Mount Larson Road communications tower eminent domain action.
A new hotel is apparently in the works for downtown Austin.
Artificial intelligence is helping future homeowners. TurboHome is an AI-powered brokerage which launched in 2024 to allow buyers to analyze, tour and research homes without a traditional agent.
Law enforcement issued an all‑clear Wednesday after a bomb threat forced the evacuation of Westwood High School in northwest Austin. In a message to families, Principal Erin Campbell said the call appeared to be part of a broader wave of “swatting” incidents targeting multiple school districts. (KVUE-TV)
The Lakeway Police Department has issued a notification regarding a registered sex offender who has been working in the Rough Hollow area and was recently observed parked in the vicinity of local schools.
Round Rock police are still investigating a jewelry store robbery that took place Tuesday at the Round Rock Premium Outlets.
In 1975, the remains of a young boy were found wrapped in a sheet inside a trash bag on the side of the highway outside Giddings, Texas. Investigators are determined to finally solve Lee County’s only cold case.
Environmentalists in Austin are voicing their concerns about plans to expand the MoPac Expressway.
Air quality in Travis County is raising health concerns, according to a new report from the American Lung Association. (American Lung Association)
WEATHER
WEDNESDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERARTUES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
A greater risk of thunderstorms tomorrow.
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Recent rain has been a boon to the Edwards Aquifer. Was it enough?
A look back at our wet April so far and a look ahead to May, our stormiest month of the year.
A Texas Republican congressional candidate, Ezekiel Enriquez, is facing a fine of over $700 after placing a wager on his own May 3 primary through an online prediction market. Enriquez ultimately finished 10th in the race, and the bet has landed him in legal hot water. (Austin American-Statesman)
A one-on-one with Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic nominee for Texas Governor.
It’s not just Texas.
Republicans in other states, like Georgia, are frustrated that President Donald Trump has refused to make endorsements in competitive U.S. Senate primary races to help avoid costly runoff elections that could drain party resources. (Houston Chronicle)
John Cornyn has been in public office longer than I’ve been alive.
— James Talarico (@jamestalarico) April 23, 2026
He’s had 40 years to lower the cost of housing, healthcare, groceries, utilities, and gas.
What’s the hold up? pic.twitter.com/VOu7Sj831q
The main obstacle is Democrats. https://t.co/RCIfAMrEZa
— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) April 23, 2026
This is the same guy you teamed up with to help Joe Biden pass the worst gun control bill in decades.
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) April 21, 2026
It's disturbing you pushed gun control with your Iran-loving best friends. https://t.co/FLX4TWbX8J
A judge has ordered the release of a family held in a South Texas detention center for 10 months. We’ll have a look at the case and what’s next.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is leading a Religious Liberty Commission for President Trump. Patrick’s recent comments denying a separation between church and state could tell us more about the group’s forthcoming policy recommendations.
With gas prices still high, there are calls on both sides of the aisle to suspend the gas tax. What would that save you, and what would we lose?
(Episode from April 22, 2026)
A group of Texas House Democrats hosted a virtual call to talk about the urgent need for more investment in water infrastructure.
Pleased to have in DC @AustinWater, @txawwa and @nbutexas. Grateful for their work to maintain reliable water services and keep our communities running, especially as Central Texas grows and faces ongoing drought challenges. Nothing better tasting than Colorado on the rocks. pic.twitter.com/C7V8jraIpQ
— Lloyd Doggett (@RepLloydDoggett) April 22, 2026
Corpus Christi’s City Manager said the city will require 25% cuts to water usage across the board in September. But at a City Council meeting on Tuesday, officials appeared deeply uncomfortable with exploring the details of how life in Corpus Christi might look under these conditions — and whether such ambitious conservation targets were even possible. (KUT 90.5)
The fight over proposed border barriers in the Big Bend region of South Texas is still going on.
The proposed border wall is back in Big Bend National Park on the most recently released map.
— American Conservation Coalition (@ACC_National) April 22, 2026
As we explain below, a physical wall is not warranted in an area with such low rates of border crossings.
Our natural heritage is not up for negotiation. https://t.co/M5qzrm8R1F
I convened community members, advocates, and elected leaders in DC to express our strong opposition to any wall or interference in Big Bend.
— Lloyd Doggett (@RepLloydDoggett) April 22, 2026
More on our efforts, including restrictions in government funding legislation, covered by Spectrum Austin. pic.twitter.com/o6ehb4GEMK
Fourteen suspects from Texas and New Mexico were indicted by a federal grand jury in Lubbock for their roles in a large-scale oil theft conspiracy in the Permian Basin. (KXAN-TV)
Most residents of a San Antonio neighborhood have been cleared to return home following two house explosions, though five households remain displaced, according to District 10 Councilman Marc Whyte.
The update comes roughly 24 hours after a pair of homes on the street were destroyed. Of the five people injured in the blasts, three remain in critical condition as of Wednesday.
SPORTS
MLS: Austin FC fell 5-1 against San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday night at PayPal Park. In their last eight games, the team is 0-3-5. Austin FC will play its fifth home match and tenth match overall of the 2026 Major League Soccer regular season against Houston Dynamo FC on Saturday.
SATURDAY, APRIL 25
As reported, Wemby was back at the Spurs practice facility and someone caught a glimpse. He seemed to be in good spirits. 👀
— SpursRΞPORTΞR (@SpursReporter) April 23, 2026
Word late Wednesday night is that he’s pushing to be cleared to at least fly to Portland when the Spurs leave Thursday.
(🎥 via: @fb user Luis Cabrera) https://t.co/XlFdoE6IgG pic.twitter.com/JFsgTa5qWe
GAME 3 – FRIDAY, APRIL 24
Game 3. Be early. Be loud.
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) April 22, 2026
Be our Home Court Advantage 🔥
🎟️ https://t.co/vTtN5BRSBJ pic.twitter.com/4yyRCZHAT8
NHL: The Dallas Stars have taken a 2-1 lead in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Wyatt Johnston scored on a power-play deflection at 12:10 of the second overtime to give the Dallas Stars a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild early Thursday for a 2-1 lead in the first-round series. (Associated Press)
GAME 4 – SATURDAY, APRIL 25
QUICK BASEBALL SCOREBOARD
The Houston Astros secured a series win in Cleveland yesterday.
The Astros have today off as they prepare to host the New York Yankees this weekend.
Texas will conclude their series with Pittsburgh tonight.
AL WEST STANDINGS
Most people have never heard of Nordheim, Texas: population 336.
Seven miles west of Yorktown on a two-lane road through DeWitt County. Blink and you’ll miss it.
The latest episode of The Daytripper.
