Texas Senate approves spending nearly $2 billion on border security
Proponents of House Bill 9 denounced the Biden administration’s approach to border security, saying the state had no choice but to step in to ramp up enforcement. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/459f052ba35208ae0b857c15237c0cca/Border%20Wall%20VC%20TTPP%20TT%2040.jpg)
James Barragán
Politics Reporter (On Leave)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/0112James_Barragan_2x3.jpeg)
James Barragán is a politics reporter for The Texas Tribune with a focus on accountability reporting. He is on leave during the 2023-24 academic year as a Nieman Fellow at Harvard. Prior to joining the Tribune, James worked as a statehouse reporter for The Dallas Morning News and had previous stints at the Austin American-Statesman and the Los Angeles Times. In 2021, James was a finalist for the Toner Prize for Excellence in Local Reporting for his coverage of Texas politics during the COVID-19 pandemic. A Southern California native, James received his bachelor’s degree in history from UCLA. He is based in Austin and is a native Spanish speaker.
Latest Contributions
-
![Construction of the border wall close to Mendoza’s ranch La Grulla on Dec. 17, 2020.]()
Credit: Verónica G. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune/ProPublica -
GOP's so-called critical race theory bill advances as bill to restrict transgender student athletes stalls in House committee
The committee action came less than 24 hours after Dutton had taunted Patrick, threatening to hold his prized legislation back amid rumors that the Senate was stalling a bill to restore funding to the Legislature. Full Story
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas deploys firefighters and other aid to Louisiana for Hurricane Ida recovery efforts
Ida, which made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane Sunday, was downgraded to a tropical storm Monday, but officials warned that flooding from storm surge will continue to affect parts of the state throughout the morning. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/58dc588d59ea9f1bac7a8102b6747975/Hurricane%20Ida%20Louisiana%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
![Highway 51 is flooded near LaPlace, Louisiana on Monday morning after Hurricane Ida came ashore on Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021.]()
Credit: Mickey Welsh/Montgomery Advert via REUTERS -
Texas House approves additional $2 billion for border security as state moves to build border wall
The bill would nearly triple border security funding from the last biennium. The legislation needs one more vote of approval from the House before moving to the Senate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6ef523e33d7fa135b8180f581c27df14/Del%20Rio%20DPS%20Surge%20MG%20TT%2043.jpg)
![A portion of the newly-erected border fence that is being constructed by the state on private property in Del Rio on July 23, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers supported a statewide vaccine mandate a decade ago. Now they're resisting one for COVID-19.
Ten years ago, the state led in requiring meningitis vaccines for students under 22 enrolling in college. Now, in the middle of a pandemic, lawmakers are more skeptical of a COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6ca534098e1b39b230f8e439e4b93e22/AISD%20Vaccine%20Event%20SP%20TT%2013.jpg)
![A nurse administers a dose of the Pfizer vaccine at a clinic organized by the Travis County Mobile Vaccine Collaborative at Rodriguez Elementary School on July 28, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton cleared by his own office of wrongdoing in bribery allegations
Attorneys for former employees who were fired after accusing Paxton of abuse of office say report is "full of half-truths, outright lies, and glaring omissions." Meanwhile, the FBI is also reportedly investigating. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d3722d8d48076c5dfd9bc5640b1b1bc5/AG%20Ken%20Paxton%20SCOTUS%20REUTERS.jpg)
![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton addresses reporters on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court after the court took up a major abortion case focusing on whether a Texas law that imposes strict regulations on abortion doctors and clinic buildings interferes with the constitutional right of a woman to end her pregnancy in Washington March 2, 2016. At right is Texas Solicitor General Scott Keller.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque -
After some Democrats return to the Texas House, holdouts say they’re complicit in moving GOP elections bill forward
The return of three Democrats on Thursday allowed the House to reach a quorum, meaning enough members were present so lawmakers could work for the first time in nearly six weeks. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/af35061fcbc1aeb4d57bcbe74bf17022/Dems%20Return%20Quorum%20MG%20TT%2015.jpg)
![State Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, leads a prayer on the House floor on Aug. 19, 2021. Democratic lawmakers Garnet Coleman, Ana Hernandez and Armando Lucio Walle returned to the House floor, given their Republican members a quorum.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
After a nearly six-week exodus over GOP voting bill, enough Democrats return to Texas House to resume work
Democrat Reps. Garnet Coleman, Armando Walle and Ana Hernandez were the latest to rejoin the House on Thursday, narrowly clinching a quorum. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/613b841dc987e16ccfb4d0fef470ce26/Dems%20Return%20Quorum%20MG%20TT%2009.jpg)
![Houston state Rep. Armando Lucio Walle pushes Rep. Garnet Coleman in a wheelchair on the House floor on Aug. 19, 2021. State Rep. Ana Hernandez walked behind the duo.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Joe Biden takes aim at states blocking mask mandates, setting Gov. Greg Abbott up for showdown with feds
Biden said he will use the U.S. Department of Education’s civil rights enforcement authority to deter states from blocking mask mandates in classrooms. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0825c12ccde17a1e73e5eb5a698491d2/Biden%20COVID%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
![President Joe Biden delivered remarks on the nation's COVID-19 response and vaccination program during a speech in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 18, 2021.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz -
Texas to spend $25 million on 2-mile concrete barrier amid Gov. Greg Abbott’s push for a state-funded border wall
The barrier in Eagle Pass is the first glimpse into how much a state-funded border wall could cost. But Abbott’s office says it’s a “concrete barrier” that is separate from his border wall push. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5ad1cb2718cf1675d9805adf0efe6b87/Eagle%20Pass%20Border%20MG%20TT%2008.jpg)
![A Customs and Border Protection vehicle is located at the entrance to Shelby Park in Eagle Pass on Feb. 8, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a5d92bb1cdcb85f97e96d4da38f0f64b/House%20Floor%2005-13%20JV%20TT%2023)