Julián Aguilar

Julián Aguilar reported for the Tribune from 2009 to 2021, most recently on politics and on the Texas-Mexico border. He focused on 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.

Past Contributions

The Midday Brief: July 18, 2011

By Julián Aguilar July 18, 2011

Your afternoon reading: SBOE gearing up for a fight; what job growth in Texas under Perry means; a Spanish-speaking TEA party group in Texas. Full Story

Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller
Consulate Warns Cartels May Target Border Ports

By Julián Aguilar July 16, 2011

The U.S. Consulate is warning U.S. citizens that new information suggests cartels may be targeting ports of entry, consulate employees and “the public in general” in response to a crackdown on criminal gangs in Ciudad Juárez by the Mexican military. An emergency alert was issued Friday. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Update: Fifty-Nine On the Run After Nuevo Laredo Jailbreak

By Julián Aguilar July 15, 2011

At least 59 inmates escaped from a state prison in the Mexican border city of Nuevo Laredo today. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmerich
Lawyers, Guns and Money

By Julián Aguilar July 14, 2011

The Department of Justice's decision this week to require firearms dealers in Texas and three other border states to report the multiple sales of long rifles will come down to a funding battle in Washington. Full Story
U.S. Rep. Smith: Obama Plotting "Backdoor Amnesty"

By Julián Aguilar July 14, 2011

A senior member of Texas’ congressional delegation wants to strip the Obama administration of its immigration enforcement duties, alleging the president is attempting to create a “backdoor” amnesty for illegal immigrants. Full Story
Trucking Program Raises Border Policy Questions

By Julián Aguilar July 13, 2011

Some Texas Republicans are embracing a cross-border trucking agreement between the U.S. and Mexico that labor unions worry could kill jobs and drastically reduce border security. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
I.D. Overreach?

By Julián Aguilar July 10, 2011

The idea was to rein in the amount of unauthorized immigrants with IDs or driver's licenses. But steps lawmakers took in that direction have some concerned they cast too wide a net. Full Story
Proof of Legal Status Now Required for State-Issued ID Cards

By Julián Aguilar July 7, 2011

An amendment attached to SB 1 during the special session will require applicants for driver's licenses and other state-issued identification cards to produce government-issued documents affirming their legal status. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Mexico and the U.S. Agree to Terms on Trucking Deal

By Julián Aguilar July 6, 2011

U.S. and Mexico inked a deal today that marks the end of a years-long dispute over how far past the border long-haul tractor-trailers can travel. Full Story
Perry and Latinos Coexist Uneasily in Politics

By Julián Aguilar July 1, 2011

Gov. Rick Perry position on "sanctuary cities" doesn't play well with Latino voters but his record of job creation and his business-friendly approach may cause some to look beyond that if he decides to seek the White House. Full Story

Credit: Jacob Villanueva