Thwarting Democratic efforts, House Republicans revive border policing unit in early-morning vote
The proposed unit would let those who are not law officers arrest or detain suspected undocumented immigrants in border-region counties. Full Story
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Alexa Ura
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Alexa Ura reported for The Texas Tribune from 2013 to 2023. She covered the complex dynamics of race, ethnicity, wealth, poverty and power and how they are shaping the future of Texas and Texans, in the long and short term. Alexa started at the Tribune as a reporting intern before graduating from the University of Texas at Austin and joining the staff full time. Originally from Laredo on the Texas-Mexico border, she is a native Spanish speaker and is based in Austin.
Past Contributions
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![A member of the Texas Army National Guard holds a flashlight as migrants crawl over rocks after wading across the Rio Grande into the United States from Mexico, in Roma, on March 4, 2022.]()
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Watch: How language advocates brought Houston voices to the Capitol
In the months leading up to their committee hearing, Woori Juntos community members trained on how to share their personal stories with legislators — in their own language. Full Story
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![Stephen Wu waits in the back of the room while the Human Services committee comes to order in the early morning at the state Capitol in Austin on April 25. 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Authorities announce capture of man suspected of killing 5 neighbors in San Jacinto County
Officials did not specify the location of his arrest on Tuesday night, but they said the suspect was being held at the Montgomery County jail where he was initially taken. Full Story
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![In a still image from video, an aerial view shows an FBI van at a location where a search is being conducted for Francisco Oropesa, 38, who police say shot dead five neighbors in Cleveland, Texas, on April 29, 2023, the day after the shooting.]()
Credit: ABC affiliate KTRK via REUTERS -
After months of struggle, Korean language access advocates find their voice at a legislative hearing
In a key step on their quest to make state services more easily available to non-English speakers, advocates from Houston’s Woori Juntos community group testified before a panel of lawmakers. Full Story
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![Woori Juntos Service Coordinator Si Hwa Gi hands out information packets about speaking with lawmakers on Tuesday, April 25, 2023.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House reaffirms the political maps it drew in 2021
The 150 districts didn’t change, but the vote ensured the House met its constitutional requirement to approve new maps in the first regular session following formal publication of the 2020 census results. Full Story
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![A map of Tarrant County shows Hispanics' voting age population on the House floor on Oct. 12, 2021.]()
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As the legislative clock ticks, Houston language advocates angle for a committee hearing
The window is closing for Woori Juntos in its pursuit of legislation to improve language access to state health programs. Full Story
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![Su Chong Yun, a senior Korean member of the Woori Juntos community, shares his personal story to his fellow community about not having access to Korean translated materials to apply for Medicare in Houston, on Thursday, March 23, 2023.]()
Credit: Joseph Bui for The Texas Tribune -
Quran taken from Texas Capitol chapel recovered by state police. They aren’t saying who removed it.
Days after it went missing, DPS identified the person who removed a family Quran Rep. Salman Bhojani had placed in the chapel. The state has since provided its own copy. Full Story
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![State Rep. Salman Bhojani, D-HD92, swears in on a copy of the Quran the on the opening day of the 88th Legislative Session at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 10, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
To be safe, Texas Senate again approves political district maps
The vote ensured the Senate met its constitutional requirement to redraw districts in the first regular session after publication of the 2020 census results. Full Story
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Chinese Americans fight for their place in Texas as lawmakers push restrictions on foreign land ownership, social media platforms
Among the fastest-growing segments of the Texas population, Chinese Americans fear their rights are becoming collateral damage as Texas officials seek to limit investment from China and ban a popular app that many rely on to keep in touch with family. Full Story
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![Members of the Texas Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Collective hold signs during a press conference at the state Capitol on March 9, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Houston language advocates race to keep their one small request from disappearing in Capitol bedlam
Woori Juntos began the legislative session hoping to win over a majority of legislators to their cause — making it easier for Texans who speak no or limited English to communicate with state agencies and access crucial services. First, they needed a lawmaker to file their bill. Full Story
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![Hyunja Norman, executive director of Woori Juntos, leads her group through the state Capitol rotunda as they make their way to their next lawmaker meeting on Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Advocacy Day on March 9, 2023. The group hoped to speak with lawmakers and seek support for bills that would improve language access for Korean and Spanish speakers in regards to health and social services,]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune
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