Why did the City of Houston withdraw its grant application?

The city withdrew the application due to concerns about the grant's immigration law enforcement guidelines and the premature submission of the application without city council approval.

What was the purpose of the grant application?

The $150 million grant was intended to fund programs assisting Houston's unhoused population, fighting violent crime, and reducing domestic violence.

Houston Withdraws Federal Grant Application Over Immigration Enforcement Concerns

The city's administration rescinded a $150 million application for a U.S. Department of Justice grant after concerns were raised about its immigration law enforcement guidelines.

The city's administration rescinded a $150 million application for a U.S.

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2026-10-05 · Updated 2026-10-05

Mayor John Whitmire's administration has withdrawn its application for a $150 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's "Model Cities Initiative." The application was submitted without the approval of the city council.

Concerns were raised by community members and some city council members regarding the grant's guidelines, which called for initiatives to align with priorities including "immigration law enforcement operations." The grant was originally unveiled by President Donald Trump under the "Make America Safe Again" banner.

Administration officials had placed the grant application on the city council's agenda twice in September but withdrew the item before any vote could be taken. Mayor Whitmire acknowledged that staff submitted the application prematurely in an effort to meet the deadline, before securing the necessary council approval.

"Due to that error and current lack of clarification on the program's guidelines, the City of Houston is withdrawing its application and will not pursue the Model Cities Initiative grant," Whitmire stated. The grant funds were intended for programs assisting Houston's unhoused population, as well as efforts to combat violent crime and domestic violence.

Council member Alejandra Salinas, who called for the application's withdrawal, expressed concerns that the city could be compelled to assist in ICE operations without jeopardizing the funding. She noted that the grant materials raised serious questions about the city's ability to refuse such requests.

FAQ

Why did the City of Houston withdraw its grant application?: The city withdrew the application due to concerns about the grant's immigration law enforcement guidelines and the premature submission of the application without city council approval.
What was the purpose of the grant application?: The $150 million grant was intended to fund programs assisting Houston's unhoused population, fighting violent crime, and reducing domestic violence.