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Gov. Abbott Says He'll Deny 'Sanctuary Cities' Some Funds

Eva Hershaw
/
Texas Tribune
Gov. Greg Abbott

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he will begin denying some state dollars to "sanctuary cities" that don't fully cooperate with U.S. immigration authorities.

The announcement Wednesday is the Republican's latest embrace of cracking down on local governments that conservatives criticize as giving refuge to immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally.

Abbott told Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez that his office will deny some criminal justice grants to counties that refuse federal detainers to keep immigrants jailed. Valdez has said recently she may not honor the requests if the suspects were arrested for minor crimes.

Despite those statements, Valdez has yet to refuse a federal detainer request at the nation's seventh-largest jail.

Dallas County has received about $78,000 this year from the program that Abbott is now restricting.

The Associated Press provided this story.