Texas Democrat leads renewed push in Congress to grant citizenship to DACA recipients
With support from several Republicans, U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia hopes migrants brought illegally to the country as children can get out of “limbo.” Full Story
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![After being detained and released by law enforcement, an undocumented immigrant wears an ankle monitor at the Catholic Charities relief center in McAllen on April 6, 2018.]()
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With another DACA court ruling looming, Texas recipients who are now adults worry about their jobs and futures
A federal judge in Houston is expected to rule for the second time that the Obama-era program is illegal. The possible end of DACA could upend the lives of more than 95,000 Texans enrolled in the program. Full Story
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![Itzayana Mondragon sits with her son Dylan at her home in Austin on June 5, 2023. Itzayana is a DACA recipient who worries about the unclear future of the program and her immigration status. Itzayana has been in the U.S. since she was less than a year old and fears the idea of going back to Mexico with her life here.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for the Texas Tribune -
Texas to deploy buoys to deter Rio Grande crossings, Abbott announces
The governor revealed plans for a floating river barrier at a Capitol signing ceremony for six new laws related to border security. The first 1,000-foot section will be set up near Eagle Pass. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott displays SB 1113, one of six bills he signed during a border security bill signing session at the state capitol in Austin on June 8, 2023. “Washington D.C. has failed to do its job to secure the border,” Abbott said “As a result, Texas has had to take unprecedented steps in responding to the crisis caused by the Biden administration on the border, and in response the Texas legislature has stepped up to make sure that we will be able to more robustly respond.”]()
Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune -
With Texas House adjourned, Senate takes bigger swing at border enforcement and human smuggling
Rather than accept the House legislation as is, senators passed their own — more expansive — proposals for border security. But unless the House convenes again, the bills can’t go to the governor’s desk. Full Story
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![State Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, talks about a bill on the Senate floor at the state Capitol in Austin on March 14, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Dan Patrick says Senate won’t budge on property tax relief — but there’s no House to negotiate with
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says the Senate won’t accept a property tax relief bill the lower chamber left behind before adjourning for the special session. A bill targeting migrant smuggling also appears imperiled. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick recaps the 88th Legislative Session with Sherry Sylvester, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, at TPPF Headquarters in downtown Austin, on May 30, 2023.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Almost two years since Kabul fell, a frayed refugee system creates obstacles for Afghans in Texas
The refugee system in Texas and nationally is still recovering from major cuts under the Trump administration. The latest casualty is Texas’ largest resettlement agency, Refugee Services of Texas. Full Story
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![Afghan refugees Azita Jawady and her husband Hamid Sadra at their home in Austin on May 17, 2023. Jawady, a former social worker and employee at USAID and Sadra, an artist, fled to Texas from danger they faced from their previous jobs in Afghanistan.]()
Credit: Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribune -
Sheriff files criminal charges over Florida’s transport of migrants from San Antonio to Massachusetts
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office didn’t say who it has accused of unlawful restraint in connection with last year’s flight to Martha’s Vineyard paid for by Florida. On Monday, California announced it’s investigating similar flights from El Paso to Sacramento. Full Story
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![A migrant arrives at Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts on Sept. 14, 2022.]()
Credit: Ray Ewing/Vineyard Gazette/Handout via REUTERS -
U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigation finds multiple failings in the death of 8-year-old girl in federal custody
After discovering that contracted medical staff ignored the mother’s pleas to take the girl to the hospital as her condition declined, the federal agency said it is taking action to ensure an in-custody death “never happens again.” Full Story
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![A border patrol vehicle on the banks of the Rio Grande in Rio Grande City.]()
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Republican priorities on school choice, border fail, but late-night compromises resurrect others
Rushed agreements and suspended rules rescue legislation on the electric grid and economic incentives for companies, and work is still being done on a property tax proposal. Full Story
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![The state Capitol in Austin is seen behind parking garage lights on the evening of April 18, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Effort to fix payroll error for state National Guard troops falls short in Texas Senate
The mistake meant about 7,400 soldiers sent to the Texas-Mexico border under Operation Lone Star were hit with higher-than-expected federal income taxes. Full Story
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![Members of the Texas National Guard work 12 to 13 hour shifts guarding the “Texas border wall,” construction crews and materials near Del Rio on Dec. 8, 2021. Thousands of National Guard troops were deployed to Del Rio after an increase in migration at the southern border.]()
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Texas Senate moves to create new immigration enforcement unit, allow state police to arrest for border crossings
The House has already passed the bill, but the two chambers will need to iron out the differences in their versions before it is sent to Gov. Greg Abbott. Full Story
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![Migrants carry supplies before crossing the Rio Grande River and into the U.S. from Mexico on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Juárez, Chihuahua. Several hundred migrants have been waiting on the U.S. side of the river to be picked up and processed by CBP.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
Senate priorities on bail, Ten Commandments in schools stall out in Texas House as key deadline passes
The two chambers have been at odds over property tax relief and school choice, but on Tuesday night, those divisions spilled over into priorities the bodies had previously agreed upon. Full Story
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![Members of the House vote on the House floor during session at the state Capitol on April 11, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Democrat unveils bipartisan immigration plan with path to citizenship, border security spending
U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar’s legislation, dubbed the Dignity Act in partnership with a Florida Republican, also seeks to change asylum processes. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, introduces the "Dignity Act" outside the Capitol during a news conference on immigration policy, on May 23, 2023, in Washington, D.C.]()
Credit: Julia Nikhinson for The Texas Tribune -
Bill providing death benefits for National Guard serving along southern border sent to governor
The legislation was named for Bishop Evans, who drowned last year trying to rescue migrants in the Rio Grande. Full Story
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![Texas National Guard and Texas DPS officers position themselves on the banks of the Rio Grande, Tuesday, December 20, 2022, in El Paso, Texas. Over 400 personnel have been sent to this border sector by Governor Abbott after El Paso city officials declared a state of emergency. Photo by Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
GOP border bill expanded to stiffen penalty for human smuggling, create border-crossing crime
State Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, tacks two of his stalled bills onto legislation that would create a border police unit and increase state spending in border communities. Full Story
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![A group migrants waits at a gate near the U.S. and Mexico border in Del Rio on July 22, 2021. The group turned themselves over to the National Guard and Customs and Border Protection officials.]()
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Texas has begun busing migrants to Denver, Gov. Greg Abbott announces
Colorado’s capital becomes the fifth Democratic-run destination for immigrants transported from the Texas-Mexico border region. Full Story
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![Migrants arriving from Texas by bus disembark at the Port Authority bus terminal in New York City, on May 10, 2023.]()
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8-year-old girl dies while in federal custody on the border
The child and her family were in custody at a border station in Harlingen before she was transported to a local hospital. The death comes less than a week after the expiration of Title 42, which had allowed authorities to quickly expel migrants from the U.S. during the pandemic. Full Story
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![What was left of the makeshift migrant camp less than 19 hours after Title 42 ended at 9:59 p.m. local time the night before, Friday, May 12, 2023, in El Paso. A group is living under the blankets that are being used to cover themselves from the sun. The camp had up to 1000 people in recent days.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
Greg Abbott asked other governors for help patrolling the Texas-Mexico border. Ron DeSantis answered the call.
Although border encounters have fallen since Title 42 ended Thursday, Texas’ top Republican asks for “all available law enforcement personnel and resources.” Full Story
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![A migrant family from Peru ask Texas National Guard Troops to be let inside a makeshift migrant camp to be processed about two hours after Title-42 ended at 9:59 p.m. local time, Friday, May 12, 2023, in El Paso, Texas. The family was denied entry.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
Border migrant encounters have dropped by half since Title 42 ended, federal official says
Federal officials had about 10,000 encounters with migrants per day at the U.S.-Mexico border before the emergency health order ended late Thursday. Since Friday they have had about 5,000 encounters per day. Full Story
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![A migrant family from Peru walks towards the nearest port of entry after they crossed the Rio Grande back into Mexico after the family asked Texas National Guard Troops to be let inside a makeshift migrant camp to be processed about two hours after Title-42 ended at 9:59 p.m. local time, Friday, May 12, 2023, in Cd. Juarez, Mexico. The family was denied entry. Photo by Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
After Title 42’s end, Texas DPS pauses Austin patrols so officers can head to the border
Despite no major influx in border crossings, state troopers will be relocated to border cities. Austin and the Texas Department of Public Safety faced criticism for the racial disparities in state trooper arrests in the capital. Full Story
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![Members of the Texas National Guard and the Texas Department of Pubic Safety at the entrance to where hundreds of migrants wait to be processed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents inside a makeshift migrant camp about three hours after Title 42 ended at 9:59 p.m. local time, Friday, May 12, 2023, in El Paso.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune