After governor's cuts, Texas rep. leads fundraising drive for Travis County

[Jimbo101]

Texas Tribune

State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin, announced plans Friday to raise public funds for Travis County, days after Gov. Greg Abbott canceled about $1.5 million in criminal justice grants over the county's new "sanctuary" policy.

Rodriguez's initiative is called Travis County #StrongerTogether and it will allow the community to donate tax-deductible funds to the county in order to help sustain community programs that "protect our women, children and veterans," according to a news release. The initiative is partnering with the Austin Community Foundation (ACF).

"The people of Travis County are resilient and take care of each other. That's what Travis County #StrongerTogether is all about," Rodriguez said in an emailed statement. "If Governor Abbott is willing to sacrifice our veterans, women and children to score political points, then we will show him the power of love."

On Wednesday, Abbott's office announced it had canceled the grants it usually administers to Travis County after its sheriff, Sally Hernandez, announced her department would reduce its cooperation with federal immigration authorities when they request an inmate be flagged for possible deportation. The policy was set to go into effect Wednesday. On Friday, the Travis County Sheriff's Office reported that 39 people had been released from the jail who had federal immigration detention requests declined under the new policy, according to the Austin American-Statesman.

Hernandez has shown no signs of backing down in the face of the funding cuts. In a Facebook post Friday, Hernandez endorsed Rodriguez's initiative, and predicted the money will help "maintain the programs Governor Abbott has defunded."