AUSTIN, Texas — When Sally Hernandez won the title of Travis County Sheriff, it was evident the office's relationship with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would be changing. 

"The voters came out and clearly have said they want a more progressive ICE policy that focuses on not breaking up families and making our community much safer," said Sheriff Sally Hernandez in November.

Now that change has come. Last Friday, Hernandez instructed deputies and jailers to not ask suspects about their immigration status and to not comply with some ICE detainer requests.

In a letter to the sheriff, Gov. Greg Abbott wrote that if Hernandez doesn't reverse her new policies, he will take away Travis County's Criminal Justice Division grant money.

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Last year that came to almost $2 million.

"I live in Travis County, so I think the sheriff's policies are not only putting my constituents in danger, but my family in danger," said Sen. Dawn Buckingham, R-District 24. 

Some state lawmakers are backing the governor's letter.

"The sheriff has a choice. She can make a good decision and cooperate with the federal government and the ICE detainees, and she is choosing not to do that, so there are consequences for that," said Buckingham. 

Some Democrats argue that taking away money from local agencies will only hinder their ability to protect the peace.

"What the sheriff here is doing, and what sheriffs around the state are doing is just trying to protect their officers (and) allow them not to be overburdened," said Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, D-District 51

Democrats say when it comes to local policies, they want the sheriff to decide.   

"I think we should leave those safety decisions up to them. I think we should be very careful about what we do with any policy that would open the doors to racial profiling in this state," said Sylvia Garcia, D-District 6.