/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/Julian_gt6QdKD.jpg)
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.
While Mexican and U.S. officials discuss drug kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán's extradition, some wonder if a surge in cartel violence along the Texas-Mexico border could follow. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/01/13/El_Chapo_arrested_closeTT.jpg)
Arguing that Mexican prisons are little more than roadblocks for drug kingpins, Texas Congressman Michael McCaul, R-Austin, is again calling for the extradition of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman to the United States. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/01/08/El_chapo_Guzman.JPG)
Take a look back at Starstruck, our interactive project on the big — and sometimes secretive — plans for commercial space flight from South and West Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/10/22/SpaceJam_Nightscapes_BO_DSC09963.jpg)
The number of people apprehended by immigration agents while trying to enter Texas illegally dropped by more than 35 percent during the federal government’s 2015 fiscal year, according to new Department of Homeland Security figures. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/04/23/Officer.jpg)
If non-Texans were still unsure how much the state's Republican lawmakers oppose President Obama's immigration and border security policies, 2015 likely cleared that up. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/12/11/Immigration_Lead.jpg)
And for the first time since 1999, there is a Christmas Tree on the floor of the Texas Senate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/12/Cornyn.jpg)
Crafted carefully, state laws can be written that would allow Texas to crack down on undocumented immigrants and illegal border crossers without running afoul of the U.S. Constitution, a state attorney told lawmakers recently. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bc70ba826c32147745421c1d081b3813/BD%20INC%20HB12%20Protest%2003%202011)
Because of a recent spike in minors crossing the border illegally in the Rio Grande Valley, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that he is ordering the Texas National Guard to stay in the area through December. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/5870137482_ea5bba1225_b.jpg)
The Dallas County Sheriff fired back at what she called inaccurate rumors on her immigration policies during an interim House committee hearing Thursday. Lawmakers also heard about an ill-conceived law that is hindering the state's identification of criminals. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/20100811-DSC_1516.jpg)
A special U.S. immigration policy provision allows Cubans to apply for legal residency status after living in the country for a year. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar says that the provision needs another look. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/11/18/MHN_CUBAN_01.jpg)