Mexico Loosening Rules for Armed U.S. Agents
Texas lawmakers are celebrating news that Mexico will soon allow U.S. agents to carry guns while inspecting cargo on Mexican soil. The change should help speed trade between the two countries. Full Story
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![New Federal Inspection Station encompassing Mexican and US Customs at Laredo International Airport, Tuesday, March 11, 2014.]()
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Look at What Happened With Immigration Issues During the Session
Differences in border security proposals sparked lots of debate during the 84th legislative session. Use our Texas Legislative Guide to see what lawmakers agreed upon, as well as other related issues that were debated this session. Full Story
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Despite Early Momentum, Immigration Bills Fall Flat
Though campaign promises to enact immigration-enforcement measures and repeal in-state tuition for undocumented students didn't see the light of day, Republicans who championed the measures said they'll be back next session to try again. Full Story
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![Texas Association of Business CEO Bill Hammond, speaks in favor of HB 1403 which was passed in 2001 and grants all Texans in-state college tuition regardless of immigration status on April 13th, 2015]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Roundup: Guns, Border Security & #ChubASong
In the Roundup: Measures related to guns and border security all got one step closer to becoming law in these final days of the 84th Legislature, and Democrats succeeded in knocking a key bill for conservatives off the calendar. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
House Sends Border Security Bill to Governor
After a months-long staring contest between the House and the Senate, the lower chamber gave a final blessing Thursday to House Bill 11, a sweeping border security bill. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, escorts Senate Finance Chair Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound through the House Chamber on May 25, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Border Security Bill Passes Senate
An expansive border security bill declared a priority by Gov. Greg Abbott was given final approval Tuesday by the Texas Senate. The vote marked the near end of a months-long disagreement between the House and the Senate. Full Story
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![A Texas Parks and Wildlife warden patrols the Rio Grande in July, 2014.]()
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Abbott, Paxton Praise Panel's Ruling on Immigration Order
A three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans has denied the White House’s request to let a controversial immigration policy proceed. Full Story
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![Immigration reform protesters walked up Congress Avenue toward the Texas Capitol on Feb. 22, 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
E-Verify Bill One Step Closer to Abbott's Desk
The Texas House on Monday gave tentative approval to a bill that would require state agencies and public universities to use the federal electronic employment system called E-Verify. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Texas Secretary of State Eschews Politics, Looks South Instead
Texas Secretary of State Carlos Cascos hopes his tenure represents a shifting tide in the office — away from partisan gridlock over voting, and toward bolstering Texas' relations with Mexico and improving life along the state's southern border. Full Story
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![Secretary of State Carlos Cascos of Brownsville gives his inaugural speech on March 7, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Lawmakers One Step Closer on Border Security
A major piece of border security legislation cleared another hurdle in the Texas Legislature on Tuesday, prompting lawmakers to predict that a compromise between the House and Senate will be hashed out before the session ends June 1. Full Story
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![Sen. Brian Birdwell R-Grandbury speaks during a March 16th, 2015 Senate Subcommittee on border security]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
With Clock Running, Immigration Bills Cling to Senate Calendar
After idling in the Senate, two controversial immigration bills — ending in-state tuition for some undocumented immigrants and barring sanctuary cities — are apparently back in play. But it remains unclear whether sponsors have the votes to bring the measures up for debate. Full Story
![Texas Association of Business CEO Bill Hammond, speaks in favor of HB 1403 which was passed in 2001 and grants all Texans in-state college tuition regardless of immigration status on April 13th, 2015]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas House, Senate Make Progress on Border Security Legislation
The House and Senate are close to coming together on another thorny subject that Gov. Greg Abbott declared a priority this session. But this issue doesn't involve tax cuts. Full Story
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![Sen. Brian Birdwell R-Granbury listens during debate of his campus carry bill SB #11 on March 18th, 2015]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas Lawmakers Consider E-Verify Mandate for Agencies
A controversial immigration-enforcement bill similar to an executive order issued by former Gov. Rick Perry in December is moving forward in the Texas Legislature. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Lawmaker "Encouraged" After Meeting With DPS Director
The state's public safety director says if lawmakers let him, he'll provide Rep. César Blanco with data on security operations on the border. The move follows weeks of tense exchanges over how border security dollars are being spent. Full Story
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![DPS chief Steve McCraw outlines plans for the National Guard role securing the Texas border as Gov. Rick Perry, l, and Guard Adjutant General John Nichols listen on July 21, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Chambers Not Too Far Apart on Border Security
Despite appearances, the House and Senate aren't too far apart on border security funding, says the lone border lawmaker on the budget conference committee. One sticking point is funding for state trooper pay. Full Story
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![State Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston and State Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen.]()
Credit: Illustration by Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Bonnen: Patrick "Playing Games" With Border Security
A key member of the Texas House’s Republican leadership blasted Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick as a Washington-style politician a day after the Texas Senate passed its version of a sweeping border security bill. Full Story
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![Ways and Means chair State Rep.Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, while debating State Rep. Sylvester Turner on HB11 border security bill March 18, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Analysis: Bickering Over Investigations, With a Legislative Audience
As the Texas Legislature debates moving ethics investigations out of Travis County, an exchange between prosecutors and state police illustrates some of the problems ahead. Full Story
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![Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Steve McCraw gives testimony during the joint Interim Committee to Study Human Trafficking in La Joya, Texas July 24th, 2014]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Senate Sends Border Security Measure to House
The Texas Senate on Monday passed its own sweeping border security bill, choosing to send its own version to the House rather than taking up the House’s measure, which the lower chamber passed last month. Full Story
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![Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, listens during a debate over Senate Bill 11 on March 18, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
State Readies for Court Battle in New Orleans
Two months after a Brownsville-based federal judge halted President Obama's immigration program, attorneys for Texas will try to convince a three-judge panel at the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans to keep it on hold. Full Story
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![President Obama talked about the U.S. economy in a speech on July 10, 2014, at the Paramount Theatre in Austin.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Castro Asks Feds for Border Surge Details
A Democratic congressman has asked the federal government to do what the Texas Department of Public Safety has said it can’t: Provide information on what role federal agents have played during the state’s multimillion-dollar border surge. Full Story
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![Former Texas House member and current Congressman Joaquin Castro at TTEvents with Evan Smith on Feb. 19, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich