The administration had quietly submitted the application without council approval despite fierce debate.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire’s administration said it has withdrawn its application for a federal grant tied to “immigration law enforcement” — after submitting the application without the city council’s approval.
The city asked for $150 million from the U.S. Department of Justice through its “Model Cities Initiative” (MCI), which President Donald Trump unveiled in June under the “Make America Safe Again” banner. The Houston Chronicle first reported on the application.
Administration officials had placed the application on the council’s agenda twice in September, pulling the item before a vote both times. Community members and some city council members raised concerns about grant guidelines calling for cities to “ensure that their initiatives align” with a number of priorities, including “immigration law enforcement operations.”…