House Passes Bill That Beefs Up Resources for Border Prosecutors
The Texas House on Thursday passed legislation that would codify the current policies and duties of the state’s Border Prosecution Unit. Full Story
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Credit: Julián Aguilar -
Many Seek Safety From Juárez Valley Cartel War
Despite improvements in pockets of northern Mexico after years of bloodshed, instability still reigns in areas of Chihuahua state that continues driving people north to seek safe haven. What determines whether a person lives or dies near this part of the Rio Grande could be as simple as geography. Full Story
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![The mass for brothers Elmer García Archuleta and Edgar Ivan García on March 27, 2015, in Fabens, Texas. The two brothers were kidnapped and killed in December of 2014 in the Valley of Juárez, Mexico.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre -
Sanctuary Cities Bill Heads to Full Senate
Along party lines, a Senate committee Wednesday advanced a controversial "sanctuary cities" bill from Lubbock Sen. Charles Perry that would cut state funds to cities that don't let their peace officers enforce immigration laws. Full Story
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![Sen. Charles Perry during a March 16th, 2015 Senate Subcommittee on border security]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
GOP Takes First Step to End In-State Tuition for Undocumented
After a marathon hearing that stretched well into Tuesday morning, a Senate subcommittee approved Sen. Donna Campbell's bill to repeal Texas law that allows some undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at colleges and universities. Full Story
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![Dreamer Cristina Lizeth Urdiales was born in Monterrey, Mexico and brought to the US at the age of 5, listens during the Senate committee hearing on April 6th, 2015]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Senate Panel Advances Sanctuary Cities Bill
A bill banning so-called sanctuary cities in Texas – the common term for local entities that do not enforce immigration laws — advanced out of a Senate subcommittee on Monday. Full Story
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![Sen. Charles Perry R-Lubbock answers questions regarding his bill SB #185 which relates to to the enforcement of state and federal laws governing immigration during Senate Subcommittee on border security on March 16th, 2015]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Playlist: Hog Heaven
After a marathon 17-plus hour debate that started just after noon last Tuesday, the House finally gave its preliminary nod to its version of the state budget, so we start this week's playlist of the week’s news with “For the Love of Money” by The O’Jays. Full Story
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![The Playlist for April 4, 2015.]()
Credit: Graphic by John Jordan -
Efforts to Divert Border Security Funding Mostly Fall Flat in Budget Debate
House Democrats tried — and mostly failed — to divert funds allotted for border security and the Texas Department of Public Safety to other departments during Tuesday’s budget debate. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, confers with State Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, during a point of order called on House Bill 11 on March 18, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
House Budget Debate to Tackle Hot-Button Issues
Planning to follow the House's budget debate today? Better clear your schedule. The chamber is set to debate 354 amendments, which are likely to stir debate on issues like abortion, border security, school vouchers and more. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Lawmaker Questions What DPS is Achieving on Border
Before it commits millions of dollars more to keep state troopers on the border, lawmakers need to know what DPS has accomplished during the border surge, a border legislator said Monday. Full Story
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Senate Panel Sets Sights on In-State Tuition Law
Efforts to ditch a law that allows some undocumented students to pay in-state college tuition appear to be on a fast track in the Senate, but key House leaders aren't on board with the idea. Full Story
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![An immigration reform rally at the Texas Capitol on Feb. 22, 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Border DAs Back Amped-Up Prosecution Unit
The final piece of a high-profile border security package got moving Tuesday when a House committee heard House Bill 12 by state Rep. Oscar Longoria, which would elevate the state's Border Prosecution Unit into an official statutory being. Full Story
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![A Texas Parks and Wildlife warden patrols the Rio Grande in July, 2014.]()
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House Gives Tentative OK to Border Security Bill
Texas House members overwhelmingly gave tentative approval to a sweeping border-security measure on Wednesday that would increase the number of state troopers on the border and establish a catchall intelligence center in Hidalgo County. Full Story
![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, confers with State Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, during a point of order called on House Bill 11 on March 18, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Sanctuary Cities Bill Back in Play in Senate
After taking a backseat in 2013, legislation to cut off funding to so-called sanctuary cities that don't use local police to enforce federal immigration laws is under debate before a Senate subcommittee. Full Story
![Sen. Charles Perry during a March 16th, 2015 Senate Subcommittee on border security]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas Urged to Crack Down on Employers That Misclassify Workers
Skirting tax laws and knowingly hiring unauthorized workers are common practices in Texas, especially in the state's construction industry. Lawmakers and workers' rights groups are trying again to target companies that misclassify workers. Full Story
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![Construction workers attend a February 2015 rally at the Texas Capitol during the Workers Defense Project's Day of the Fallen, which honors workers who died on the job.]()
Credit: Julián Aguilar -
The Playlist: Something in the Water
This week, we published Undrinkable, our series on why tens of thousands along the Texas border don’t have ready access to safe, clean drinking water, so we start this week’s playlist of the week’s news with “Something in the Water” by Prince. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by John Jordan -
Cruz Heavy on Border Rhetoric, Light on Trips
As he feels out a possible presidential bid, Ted Cruz has made border security and immigration his calling cards. But Texas' first Hispanic U.S. senator has only made three trips to border since taking office. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz holding a press conference at the Anzalduas International Bridge in Mission surrounded by a group of local ranchers who said they've been affected by poor border security.]()
Credit: Doug Young -
Revisit Our Five-Part Undrinkable Series
The Texas Tribune's five-part Undrinkable series looks at border communities that lack reliable, clean water despite a multibillion-dollar effort that has spanned decades. Full Story
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Obama Administration Asks Appeals Court to Let Immigration Plan Proceed
Attorneys with the U.S. Department of Justice filed an emergency motion asking an appeals court to lift a temporary halt to a federal immigration program that was issued by a Brownsville-based federal judge in February. Full Story
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![President Barack Obama in a speech to Texas Democrats at the Paramount Theater July 10, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
For Two Border Towns, Clean Water Plan Crashes
From our Undrinkable series: most Rio Bravo and El Cenizo residents don't trust the tap water despite a treatment plant intended to better the two towns' standard of living. Full Story
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Credit: Jennifer Whitney -
Far-Reaching Border Security Bill Clears First Hurdle
After several reassurances from House members about what a border security bill is not intended to do, the House Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety voted out the sweeping measure on Wednesday. Full Story
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![A view of the Texas-Mexico border from El Paso.]()
Credit: Robert Thomson
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