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Julián Aguilar reports on politics and border affairs from the Texas-Mexico border. His focuses include immigration reform and enforcement, voter ID, international trade, border security, and the drug trade. His political coverage has included local, legislative and congressional races in Texas, as well as local and national elections in Mexico. Before joining The Texas Tribune, he was a freelance writer for the Fort Worth Weekly, a government and crime reporter for the Laredo Morning Times, and a political writer for the Rio Grande Guardian. A native of El Paso, he has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Texas and a master's degree in journalism from the Frank W. Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism at the University of North Texas.
Patrick Crusius, the alleged gunman in the Aug. 3 massacre at a Walmart store, already faces state capital murder charges for the racially motivated shooting spree that also wounded dozens. Full Story
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President Donald Trump touted economic and military successes. U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin was among Democrats who walked out. Afterwards, U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar rebutted Trump's speech from El Paso. Full Story
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As lawmakers, immigration attorneys and advocates call for the end of the Migrant Protection Protocols, the Department of Homeland Security announced it would expand to include Brazilians. Full Story
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The student recently traveled to Wuhan, China, where the deadly virus originated. Full Story
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"Resettlement funding cannot simply be reallocated to other problem areas such as homelessness," said the CEO of the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. Full Story
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The decision comes just days after the Texas governor became the first state leader to opt out of the program. The move drew a harsh rebuke from Texas' Catholic bishops. Full Story
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Only about 2% of people seeking asylum have access to attorneys, but those with legal representation are much more likely to obtain protections. Full Story
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It’s not the first time Abbott has disagreed with the religious groups over state policy. He was also criticized after he made 2017's Senate Bill 4, an omnibus, state-based immigration enforcement bill, a legislative priority. Full Story
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The decision comes after more than 40 other governors said they would opt in to the federal program. Full Story
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The White House called the initial decision to block on the use of military funds for the border wall "illegitimate" and hailed the appeals court decision as a victory. Full Story
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It's still unclear if Abbott will join nearly 40 other governors who have decided to stay in the program. Full Story
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The State Department has issued warnings advising against travel to Mexican border states and the president has considered labeling cartels as terrorist organizations. But Trump officials continue to downplay the violence in cities where "remain in Mexico" is in place. Full Story
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The programs deny asylum seekers access to adequate counsel before key interviews with immigration officers, the lawsuit alleges. Full Story
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More than 630 violent crimes against asylum seekers affected by the Migrant Protection Protocols program have been reported in Mexico, according to a new report by Human Rights First. Full Story
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In Laredo, border landowners are receiving letters from the federal government, requesting permission to enter their land for surveying. "Hell no, we're not signing anything," one recipient said. Full Story
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A U.S. district judge ruled the administration’s third-country rule doesn’t apply to people who sought asylum before July 16. Full Story
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The figure is the lowest since July 2018 and marks the fifth consecutive month that the number has dropped. Full Story
The store where a gunman killed nearly two dozen people and shot dozens more in August opened its doors Thursday, setting off a wave of mixed emotions in a community still grieving. Full Story
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The shortage has forced the West Texas Detention Facility, operated by Louisiana-based LaSalle Corrections, to turn off its water nightly. Full Story
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The Migrant Protection Protocols, a program requiring migrants to wait in Mexico as their asylum requests are pending, is in effect in Eagle Pass, El Paso, Laredo and Brownsville. Full Story
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