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Trump administration will soon expand "remain in Mexico" policy for migrants to busiest part of the border

by Jay Root

It started in California, on the western edge of the southern border. Now officials say the controversial “remain in Mexico” program, which sends asylum-seeking migrants back across the border to await their fate, could soon hit the other end: Brownsville.

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Texas leaders: Hemp law did not decriminalize marijuana

by Jolie McCullough Updated: July 18, 2019

A law legalizing hemp changed the definition of marijuana, causing district attorneys across the state to drop low-level possession cases and stop accepting new ones.

After defeats in 2019, a group of Texas lawmakers is teaming up to push criminal justice reform

by Jolie McCullough July 18, 2019

The new Criminal Justice Reform Caucus in the Texas House will set its sights on changes in 2021.

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Nancy Pelosi, other U.S. House leaders to host event for Wendy Davis as she nears congressional run

by Patrick Svitek July 18, 2019

An invitation obtained by The Texas Tribune says the event is "in support of her campaign for Texas CD 21."

One shelter for migrant children is trying to distinguish itself from Border Patrol processing centers. But protesters keep coming.

by Christopher Vazquez, Justin Dehn and Todd Wiseman July 18, 2019

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the agency running the Carrizo Springs facility for unaccompanied teens, has distinguished its shelters from processing facilities facing worsening conditions. That hasn’t stopped protesters from descending on the town.

Border agent in Clint accused of harassing mother of 12-year-old migrant who was in custody

by Abigail Hauslohner and Maria Sacchetti, The Washington Post July 18, 2019

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent allegedly sought out and harassed an undocumented Guatemalan woman living in California.

Houston councilwoman Amanda Edwards jumps into Democratic primary in hopes of unseating Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn

by Abby Livingston and Patrick Svitek July 18, 2019

Edwards joins an increasingly crowded field vying for the Democratic nomination for one of Texas' U.S. Senate seats. The eventual nominee will face an incumbent who already has a $9 million war chest.

Texas' biggest cities scramble to figure out what the 2019 legislative session will cost them

by Juan Pablo Garnham July 18, 2019

Property tax reform and a ban on red-light cameras are among bills that will hit city budgets. Local officials across the state are trying to calculate just how much money they'll forgo as the laws take effect.

"All we want is for them to listen to us": In Mexico, Trump's latest asylum policy stirs anger, fear and confusion

by Julián Aguilar and Jay Root July 18, 2019

The Trump administration's new policy aimed at disqualifying most asylum seekers is stirring anger and resentment among migrants who have waited months to present themselves at a port of entry.

U.S. Rep. Al Green's third attempt to impeach Trump falls flat

by Adam Willis July 17, 2019

The Houston Democrat has repeatedly bucked party leadership by pushing impeachment. But the lone-wolf move failed once again Wednesday.

With increased state funding, Lamar State colleges will cut tuition by a quarter

by Shannon Najmabadi July 17, 2019

The Legislature gave a $17.3 million funding boost to the two-year colleges, which are part of the Texas State University System.

TribCast: Donald Trump's racist tweets, Beto O'Rourke's slaveholding ancestors

by Emily Ramshaw and Michael Rey de Leon July 17, 2019

On this week's TribCast, Emily talks to Alexa, Dave and Patrick about the president's racist tweets, the latest on the migrant crisis and O'Rourke's revelation about his slaveholding ancestors.

Analysis: A modest proposal for the Texas-Mexico border crisis

by Ross Ramsey July 17, 2019

The crisis on the Texas-Mexico border persists, even as President Donald Trump's racist Twitter attacks on four members of Congress threaten to distract voters and lawmakers.

Two Texas Republicans in Congress were out-raised as national Democratic offensive kicks off in Texas

by Patrick Svitek July 16, 2019

GOP U.S. Reps. Pete Olson of Sugar Land and Kenny Marchant of Coppell raised less money in the second quarter than their Democratic opponents, according to campaign finance reports.

Most Texas Republicans vote against U.S. House resolution condemning Trump for racist tweet

by Abby Livingston July 16, 2019

All Democrats voted in favor of the resolution, which passed in a near party-line vote. Only one Texas Republican, U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, joined Democrats in the vote.

Groups file suit to halt Trump administration's new asylum policy

by Nick Miroff, The Washington Post July 16, 2019

The American Civil Liberties Union and others went to court in San Francisco to argue that the administration can't deny asylum based on how migrants arrived on U.S. soil.

Six officials at Southwest Key, nonprofit running migrant child shelters, earned more than $1 million in 2017

by Mark Berman, The Washington Post July 16, 2019

The Texas-based group's former chief executive made $3.6 million that year.

"You don't forget it": President Trump’s "go back" tweet stokes old wounds for Texans of color

by Alexa Ura July 16, 2019

Some Texans of color have spent much of their lives working through how racist attacks left them feeling less American. Now, those attacks are coming from the president.

Hemp law has most big-city prosecutors in Texas stepping back from marijuana charges. But not in El Paso.

by Jolie McCullough July 16, 2019

Many prosecutors say the way Gov. Greg Abbott and lawmakers redefined marijuana requires new lab testing to prove it’s different from recently legalized hemp. The situation has created a patchwork of consequences for people caught with pot.

"I'm not sorry": A quarter-century later, Eddie Bernice Johnson stands by her crime bill vote

by Adam Willis July 16, 2019

Johnson is the only Texan remaining in Congress who voted for the bill, which has become deeply unpopular among Democrats and is a contentious issue in the 2020 presidential primary.