TEXAS — The office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is investigating Houston and Austin after the cities changed their policies regarding how law enforcement should interact with federal immigration agents.

Last week, the City of Houston passed an ordinance requiring police not to prolong field encounters — such as traffic stops — when someone has an administrative warrant from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Before, Houston Police Department officers had to wait 30 minutes for ICE to arrive on scene in those cases.

The Austin Police Department also updated its procedure for working with ICE last month after a controversial encounter involving a 5-year-old U.S. citizen being detained. Under the new policy, APD officers are no longer required to contact ICE when someone has an administrative warrant from the agency and no other arrestable criminal charge.

According to an April 10 letter to Houston Mayor John Whitmire, Paxton’s office is launching an investigation into whether Houston’s ordinance violates Senate Bill 4, which enforces immigration-related arrests.

Gov. Greg Abbott said in a separate letter last week that the state will discontinue Houston’s $110 million in grants in response to the policy change.

In a statement posted to Facebook on Monday, Whitmire stressed the importance of state funding and said the potential loss will impact public safety services across the city, including preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Department of Homeland Security. Houston’s NRG Stadium is set to host seven World Cup matches.

“This is a crisis situation… we have significant work ahead, and I’m considering all options,” Whitmire said.

As for Austin, Paxton’s office will investigate the city over APD’s policy change, according to records obtained by CBS News.

In a statement posted to Instagram on Monday, Austin City Council member Mike Siegel said the move by Paxton “only strengthen[s] our resolve to protect and build trust with our community.”

“The City is in full compliance with the law, and Paxton’s grandstanding does nothing to change that. I will continue to condemn the inhumane and criminal conduct of ICE and their state allies, and express my deep appreciation for everyone who is fighting to ensure Austin is a safe and welcoming community for all,” Siegel said.