Bongs and Fruitcakes Infuse Central Texas Republican House Race
Fourteen years after first being elected to the Texas House, state Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, faces what some consider his toughest re-election battle to date. Full Story
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Julián Aguilar
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Julián Aguilar reported for the Tribune from 2009 to 2021, most recently on politics and on the Texas-Mexico border. He focused on immigration reform and enforcement, voter ID, international trade, border security, and the drug trade. His political coverage has included local, legislative and congressional races in Texas, as well as local and national elections in Mexico. Before joining The Texas Tribune, he was a freelance writer for the Fort Worth Weekly, a government and crime reporter for the Laredo Morning Times, and a political writer for the Rio Grande Guardian. A native of El Paso, he has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Texas and a master's degree in journalism from the Frank W. Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism at the University of North Texas.
Past Contributions
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![Republican candidates incumbent Byron Cook, left, and Thomas McNutt, right, run in the 2016 election for Texas House District 8.]()
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As Supreme Court Prepares to Hear Historic Immigration Case, Texas Explains its Strategy
As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear a case challenging President Barack Obama's executive order on illegal immigration, the two top lawyers for Texas spoke to the Tribune about what the state is fighting for. Full Story
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![Texas First Assistant Attorney General Chip Roy and Solicitor General Scott Keller sat down with Tribune reporter Julián Aguilar on Feb. 1, 2016 to discuss an upcoming case on illegal immigration headed to the U.S. Supreme Court.]()
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As Feds Plan to Cut Surveillance at Border, Texas Officials Demand Explanation
Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Laredo Democrat, pressed the Department of Homeland Security on Monday to explain why the agency plans to reduce its aerial surveillance on the Texas-Mexico border. Full Story
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![A Customs and Border Protection vehicle patrols on the Texas border near the Rio Grande, Thursday, July 24, 2014, in Mission, Texas. Texas is spending $1.3 million a week for a bigger DPS presence along the border.]()
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Gooden, Spitzer Prepare for Round Three
Former state Rep. Lance Gooden wants his seat in the Texas House back, setting up a rubber match in the Republican primary for House District 4 with the man who beat him in 2014, Stuart Spitzer. Full Story
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![Republicans Lance Gooden, left, and incumbent Stuart Spitzer, right, run in the 2016 election for Texas House District 4.]()
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New Rules Will Make It Easier to Track Cable Ad Buys
Also, Texas has run out of options, must pay opponents' legal bills in a long-running battle over state redistricting maps. Full Story
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As Pope's Trip to Border Nears, Catholics Wonder What His Message Will Be
With Pope Francis scheduled to visit Ciudad Juárez next month, the area's Catholics are speculating whether the famously outspoken pontiff will bring up hot-button social issues such as immigration, poverty and corruption. Full Story
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![A cardboard cutout of His Holiness Pope Francis greets residents of Ciudad Juárez on January 16, 2016. Pope Francis will visit the border city in February as part of a six-day tour of Mexico.]()
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Texas Faces Lawsuit Over Provision of Border Law
Taking aim at a new Texas law making it a state felony to harbor undocumented immigrants, a national civil rights group announced Monday that it is suing the state. Full Story
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![Nina Perales of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and members of the Texas Latino Redistricting Task Force present a proposal for two new Latino-majority congressional seats during a 2011 press conference.]()
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State Trooper Rotations to Border Will Continue
Despite an $800 million appropriation that includes money to permanently station more troopers near the Rio Grande, DPS will continue borrowing officers from around the state for border security. Full Story
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![Texas DPS Director Steve McCraw gives testimony during a joint committee hearing on border security on Jan 21, 2016]()
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Activists Sue 10 Federal Agencies Over Secrecy in Deportations
A coalition of attorneys and immigrant rights groups is suing 10 federal agencies over withholding documents related to how the Obama administration is dealing with deporting criminal immigrants. Full Story
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U.S. Supreme Court to Consider Obama's Immigration Program
The U.S. Supreme Court decided on Tuesday to consider the Obama administration’s controversial immigration program, which has been on hold for nearly a year after being blocked by a Texas-based federal judge. Full Story
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![Immigrants and activists participate in press conference and rally on Nov. 19, 2015, before a 37-mile march to show support for immigration reform. The marchers planned to walk for three days, from the federal immigration detention facility in Taylor to the Texas Governor's Mansion in downtown Austin.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman